Losing Our Language

Losing our Language: The Deterioration of the English Language The English language has and continues to rapidly evolve within the United States and around different places throughout the world. Even though there is uniformity in the Standard English language, it also exists in many varieties such as dialects and registers as stated by John Algeo in The Origins and Development of the English Language. Dialects are a variety of languages that are associated with a specific place, social level, ethnic group, gender, and age group that help define who someone is and where they are come from. Meanwhile, registers are varieties of languages used for particular purposes, for example, sermon language showing distinctive rhythm, telephone conversation
language, and e-mail and instant-messaging language which uses mostly abbreviations; registers indicate who you are addressing, the medium, subject, and purpose (11).
With these language variations in mind we can concur that people’s imprecision, misapplication, and the deliberate manipulation of the language causes its deterioration as well as the influences of modern technology. The English language has been deteriorating because of the modern e-mail and chat room language abbreviations, incorporation of different dialects depending on culture, and the inappropriate use of words as well as incorrect spelling. Modern technological advances and changes are causing the English language to deteriorate or degrade rapidly. The recent expansion of e-mail, chat room, and messaging communication has quickly left harmful effects on the way people communicate to one another. Communications between users occur at a fast pace since they are attempting to keep up with the incoming information in real time. The feeling of anxiety to receive, process, and react to a message causes the person to respond with brief and shorten words. Shorter phrases are usually preferred as well as words because they are easier to spell and less time consuming. In the article “SOS: Written English in Trouble” Joyce Lynn Garrett states, “text speak, emoticons, and the more casual language of e-mail have found their way into everyday writing” (8). In other words, e-mails, messaging, and chatting have
modernized spelling and the way we speak. In “The Internet and the English Language,” Terence Carter claims that, “[a] variation of stenography has almost become the standard lingo for the transmission of information on the Net” (par. 10). Before text messaging became part of our daily routine, people were able to distinguish between proper speech and grammar used specifically for important communications from e-mail or chatting developed language mainly from abbreviations (lol-laugh out loud, ttyl-talk to you later, or u-you). People are no longer able to notice their grammatical and mechanical errors made when writing e-mails or chats since they have already made it a habit writing in this manner. However, the spelling and grammar tool in the computer has a lot to do with these errors going undetected since incorrect grammatical or spelling changes are suggested or automatically change (Garrett 9). It can be seen that Internet communication has its own language and grammar rules, rules that don’t fall under the standards of proper English. It is yet to be discovered whether this is a progression of the language or a stage that must last until the medium advances. Carter agrees that [o]nly when a comfortable medium between today 's "net-speak" and standard English is reached, can we hope to see any substantial positive changes in the English language (par. 17). People whose first language is English, have quite an advantage since English is the official language of eighty countries and favors as language of congresses, commercial negotiations, journals, music, sports, technology, and industry among others dealing with international participation as mentioned by Salzmann (Language, Culture, and Society: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology 173). Since the English language is spoken and learnt by people from all over the world, it has been diversified dialectally. In addition, the United States gives home to immigrants from a wide variety of cultures resulting in an increase in ethnic dialect. The mix of all these dialects causes confusion among the people who are newly engaging in the Standard English language such as little kids and newly arrived immigrants that are attempting to learn the language since various forms of “proper” English are believed to be spoken depending on the person’s ethnic exposure.
The origin of the African-American’s English has been associated with their acquiring of the language from the whites that they worked for in the plantations reflecting the English their antecedents learned. The African American language has been specifically studied to further prove the influences of linguistic different between two cultures living in the same place. Algeo emphasizes that “[t]he distinctive African-American vocabulary exerts a steady and enriching influence on the language of other Americans; for example, “nitty-gritty”… “jazz”… and yam much earlier” (197). The studies also showed that African-American have different pronunciation considered unusual compared to most other Americans. Algeo agrees when he writes, “blacks are more likely than whites to drop the [t] from words like “rest” and “soft”; to use an r-less pronunciation… and to pronounce words like “with” and “nothing” with [f] (197).
The various cultures also incorporate significant forms of slang to the American culture causing deterioration to the Standard English language. Dumas and Lighter suggest that “slang denotes an informal, nonstandard, nontechnical vocabulary… it is often associated with youthful, raffish, or undignified persons or groups; and it conveys striking connotations of impertinence or irreverence, especially for established attitudes and values within the prevailing culture” (qtd. in Cambridge History of the English Language 220).
The final factor that contributes to the deterioration of the English language is the inappropriate use of words and lack of spelling accuracy; on a daily basis, people are exposed to many incorrect grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Garrett claims that “[w]e see errors in printed materials (a recent newspaper headline proclaimed s sport ‘had fell’ from grace), on billboards (‘There’s many reasons you should visit’), and on license plates (‘You’ve got a friend in Pennsylvania’) (9). Many people don’t recognize these mistakes since they are so usual. Another factor that involves inappropriate use of words and spelling errors is “whether or not school personnel have well-thought-out, systematic and mutually agreed upon policies governing writing programs in their schools and districts as mentioned in “SOS: Written English in Trouble” (9). The National Council of Teachers recommend proficiency is positive when the policies are clearly expressed and applied by every person the same way. Teacher’s skills and abilities, have a lot of influence on the way student’s write and speak. A type of learning condition is that of observational learning, in which the child will learn based on what he or she sees from her instructor/teacher. Garrett demonstrates that there is a percentage of teachers are not necessarily taking on their duties since student’s unedited work is being posted with grammatical and spelling errors
(9).
In sum, then, the English language is slowly deteriorating over time due to the technological advances of e-mail, chatting, and messaging options. Anxiety to receive and respond to messages has been the main cause of the many abbreviated words seen in today’s language. The various cultural dialects incorporated in the United States from immigrants have also contributed to a mix and at times confusing forms of the English spoken language. Not everybody will fully understand every cultures dialect and in attempt to do so, we are exposing our traditional English to degrade. Advertising companies, individuals that make up the writing expectations, and educators should put forth and effort to avoid publishing unedited works and coming up with system to be followed by everyone. My point is that we should take advantage of the advances in technology and to learn about other cultures dialects, but we should keep in mind the proper written and spoken English. This is not necessarily meaning that when writing an e-mail, text or chat we should refrain from shortened words or abbreviations, but to be able to decide when and where to use it. Standard English as well as dialects from different cultures is an important part of the society and communication. Standard English keeps all the different speakers on a same page; however, nonstandard English is used to speak between friends and in net conversations. Deciding when to use them is essential to keep the English Language to continue degrading.

Works Cited
Algeo, John. The Origins and Development of the English Language. 6th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2005. 11, 197. Print.
---. The Cambridge History of the English Language: English in North America. Vol. 6. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2001. 220. Print.
Carter, Terence. “The Internet and the English Language” Writer’s Block. WritersBlock.com, 1999. Web. 13 April 2010. Garrett, Joyce Lynn. “SOS: Written English is in Trouble.” Kappa Delta Pi Record 45.1(2008): 8-9. The H.W. Wilson Company/Wilsonweb. Web. 17 February 2010.
Salzmann, Zdenek. Language, Culture, and Society: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology. 4th ed. Boulder: Westview Press, 2007. 173. Print.