Deterioration of the English Language
Word Count: 1,237
Denise Moreno
Professor Carlene Coury
English 120
13 April 2013
Deterioration of the English Language
The English language seems to be deteriorating more and more each day. So many examples can be given to justify this observation. Three different writers have pointed out some examples of the butchering of the language. Martha Brokenbrough states that the constant use of instant messaging jargon and internetism can certainly be a good way to reshape the way we communicate. At the same time she writes it can also affect the way we communicate properly and professionally. Author, George Orwell, speaks about how we have developed words in the English language to disguise the true meaning for political causes. Orwell points out that we mask what we truly want to say, and at the same time, we confuse the reader by not making sense of what we write. Speechwriter, Clark Whelton, pointed out that vagueness is a growing problem in our mother language; therefore, college students don’t know how to stop being vague while trying to communicate. Even though all three writers make different points about English decaying as a language, they all concur in the cause of this problem, laziness. Martha Brokenbrough states “So the key with Internetisms is to know when it's okay to use them, when it's not okay, and when not using them will make you look clueless” (149). Brokenbrough emphasizes that using instant messaging lingo is not bad, and it is appropriate in specific time and places, however, not knowing where and when to use this lingo, can cause confusion and make you look foolish. LOL is a very common phrase to hear nowadays, but when one goes to a job interview and can’t carry a conversation without using any of these abbreviations, it is not only unacceptable but disrespectful. The shortcuts we use may be making us look lazy and dumb when used at a courtroom or a doctor’s office as examples. LMAO seems impolite and childish when used at these
Denise Moreno
Professor Carlene Coury
English 120
13 April 2013
Deterioration of the English Language
The English language seems to be deteriorating more and more each day. So many examples can be given to justify this observation. Three different writers have pointed out some examples of the butchering of the language. Martha Brokenbrough states that the constant use of instant messaging jargon and internetism can certainly be a good way to reshape the way we communicate. At the same time she writes it can also affect the way we communicate properly and professionally. Author, George Orwell, speaks about how we have developed words in the English language to disguise the true meaning for political causes. Orwell points out that we mask what we truly want to say, and at the same time, we confuse the reader by not making sense of what we write. Speechwriter, Clark Whelton, pointed out that vagueness is a growing problem in our mother language; therefore, college students don’t know how to stop being vague while trying to communicate. Even though all three writers make different points about English decaying as a language, they all concur in the cause of this problem, laziness. Martha Brokenbrough states “So the key with Internetisms is to know when it's okay to use them, when it's not okay, and when not using them will make you look clueless” (149). Brokenbrough emphasizes that using instant messaging lingo is not bad, and it is appropriate in specific time and places, however, not knowing where and when to use this lingo, can cause confusion and make you look foolish. LOL is a very common phrase to hear nowadays, but when one goes to a job interview and can’t carry a conversation without using any of these abbreviations, it is not only unacceptable but disrespectful. The shortcuts we use may be making us look lazy and dumb when used at a courtroom or a doctor’s office as examples. LMAO seems impolite and childish when used at these
Cited: Brockenbrough, Martha. “Does IM make U Dum?”. The Conscious Reader 12th ed. Longman 2012. 148-151 Print. Orwell, George. “Politics and the English Language”. The Conscious Reader 12th ed. Longman 2012. 445-457 Print. Whelton, Clark. “Vague-Talking and the Loss of English.” MINDING THE CAMPUS, 13 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 March 2013.