Language evolving or degenerating?

[Tups]

I've always been pedantic about getting the english language correct. I know that 'language' is an organic thing that, by it's very nature, evolves. Let's face it, we wouldn't like to be talking middle english to our friends! But where do you draw the line between evolving and degenerating? Do we give in to the abuse people make of apostrophes? Do we accept bad spelling caused by people's slovenly articulation? I love the variety of colloquialisms but should there be golden rules that we never break? Perhaps you have your own favourite words and phrases that are peculiar to your location? I have only taught english at junior school level and wouldn't purport to be an expert by any means, but I do love my mother tongue, with all its richness and I am fearful of its deterioration. What do you think?

[jno]

spellin, B00?

[porphyro]

Language use is swiftly degenerating. Like you I love language, and that includes the many and increasing variations of a language, such as "dub" and "hip hop" language. However, breaking or re-crafting a rule is one thing, total ignorance is another. It is not only the degeneration, but also the manipulation, of language that scares me - politicians and other media monsters have created a whole new language of meaningless waffle, verb-less sentences, and hot air. Depending on your circumstances and geographical situation, you can find yourself being sacked, robbed or even blown to bits, while all the while it sounds the most neutral, inocent experience!

Last week I heard a teacher tell a child, "You're having very bad manners."
Says it all.

[porphyro]

i meant "innocent" of course!

[clareybeary]

I agree 101%.
I could answer your question with the cliched reasoning concerning todays english, that children are not reading enough and possibly their sloven articulation is due to text messaging...but that is coming from a youth (and by youth in this case i mean a 21-year-old's) perspective. so what do i know? lol. But I was looking through some old english books of mine and discovered a lot of incorrect grammer that according to my teacher's red ticks, didn't mean anything to her...this was in 2003
I'd like to be an English teacher, and am rubbing my hands anticipating the methods i shall introduce to clean up the degenerating english of today's youth...

[abstibus]

Have you seen this?
http://www.icw-net.com/howto/funstuff/euroengl .htm

[Sarahmitz]

Tups, I'm as pedantic. I loathe to see the correctness bastardised. I have no problem with speech being localised but it should always be written correctly. My kids are very aware of this, they use texting terms in that environment but school work is written properly and teachers DO mark accordingly. What an interesting question, with loads of different opinions,
Sarah.

[know-noknow]

well are fink it is degerminating just what you as said

[jake-the-peg]

I really hope agreeing 101% was written with heavy irony.

You can have easilly have alternative spellings I deal with Americans every day and switch easily between colour and color and rationalise and rationalize and the dozens and dozens of others.

So spelling and maths are very different.

In language if you're the only one doing it one way you're creative, a few more doing it than way and you're a dialect, even more and you're an acceptable anternative in the end you become the standard.

I'm rolling on the floor laughing at all the people who think there is a right and a wrong.

It's like all the people 50 years ago who thought there was a correct pronunciation and that every civilised Briton should have an accent like the Queen.

Now if you'll excuse me I must put on my bowler hat for work!

[Tups]

Everyone talking like the queen; what a fantastic idea! lol

[ludwig]

If there's no right or wrong in English, how come my son doesn't always get 20/20 in his spelling tests?
Or perhaps a comment like, 'Well done, you demonstrated conformity on fifteen of the answers and creativity on the other five'.

[Tups]

I don't think a Chemist would get away with saying, 'Well, I nearly got the formula right; just one or two molecules out.' Nor would a doctor, prescribing the wrong dose of a medicine. And what about the fuel operators at an airport who, in calculating the amount of fuel a jumbo jet would need for its next flight, put the decimal point in the wrong place, with disastrous results! We need to learn to be precise. Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, examiners have to judge us by what we have written on the exam paper as they don't know us personally. Being 'creative' with our grammar, punctuation and spelling won't go down very well! Like a building that needs both its foundations and bricks to be laid firmly and precisely, the English Language needs to be precise in it's written form if it isn't going to crumble.

[Jugglering]

Although I find spelling mistakes on sites like these irritating, so long as they don't lead to ambiguity, I usually say nothing. However, when I simply cannot understand what someone has written (even if I try to say it out loud), then I get a bit annoyed and start to wonder if there are different versions of English around....

Tups - you made me smile there with your last sentence, I've also been known to make the odd typo (*it's* when I really mean *its*)....lol

[Tups]

oops! unforGIVable!!!

[TrishK7]

Hi, I am new here and this is just the sort of discussion that I enjoy

[Myriad2112]

init!

[Poppy]

i luv it gr8 c u l8er

I abhor the above. I receive texts from professionals in this ridiculous fashion. I'd far rather spend an extra 30p (or whatever the going text message rate is) and spread my message over two pages than resort to this tomfoolery.

I have read and reread the above a dozen or so times to ensure that my spelling and grammar are immaculate. I do hope that nobody can catch me out. Gud luk if u want 2 tri.

[Poppy]

Also, with regard to 'talking like the Queen' the nearest modern dialect which is closest to the roots of our great royal ancestors is actually Geordie. The current 'posh' accent was actually an affectation of the middle to upper classes back in King George's day. So Haway the lads, learn how to talk proper.

[TrishK7]

I am always interested to read the opinions of fellow pedants.
So, my Oxford Guide to the English Language clearly states that realize is spelt realize and that is the way I spell it. However, in every book and article I read, it is spelt realise. Which is correct?

[Tups]

Trish, welcome! Sorry for the late reaction; I've been away. My pc always tries to make to change realise into realize but I won't let it; I'm in control! Guess it's silly really, when, truth known, American spelling is more logical!

[TrishK7]

Thanks for getting back to me Tups.
Well I decided to Ask the Experts. So I went to the OED. They assure me that realize is not an Americanism, it is the preferred English spelling but that realise has become popular because there are so many lazy spellers out there. LOL
I will never change to realise, partly because I know I am spelling realize correctly and partly because I don't think it looks right.
But each to our own, realise is not an incorrect spelling, just not one preferred by the OED.
I can think of far worse crimes against the English language than realise.LOL