With the many technological advances that have made their way into our society, it is safe to say that they have truly revolutionized the way we, as humans, live our everyday lives. For example, the internet which is a database for information, as well as a channel for which the information is shared; and the cellphone, which helps us connect with one another quickly and efficiently. These inventions have helped make communication and the spread of information much more efficient. According to The Canberra Times of Australia, more and more university graduates are using text message abbreviations and slang in their essays. Therefore the problem of using slang and abbreviations is not due to the lack of education, but rather people wanting to speed up their life, even if it is just the difference of a few letters. But is this really such a negative thing? Language is something that is constantly changing. Although the English language is only around 1500 years old, it has changed at such a dramatic rate that even if we look at Shakespearean English, which is only less than four hundred years old, most people would find it extremely confusing and hard to understand. Therefore, even modern day "proper" English is not the same English that was spoken some 1500 years ago. Slang is part of the natural part of the evolution of language. The purpose of language is to communicate thoughts and ideas, and as long as all parties understand what is being conveyed, the purpose is fulfilled. That being said, overuse of slang and abbreviations is not good practice as it can make your message unclear or even mean the opposite of what you are trying to say. Slang and abbreviations should not be seen as degradation of the English, but as the natural evolution of language.
1 comments:
I thought this was a very thoughtful perspective on the effects of modern slang. I definitely agree that slang is a part of the evolution of Englsih and that overuse of abberviations can make your message unclear. At the same time, I wonder what will happen to the languages of our future. If the use of slang is inevitable, will our languages be replaced with these simpler terms? If so, I wonder if this will affect our feelings to everyday conversations; will we ourselves feel degraded because people use abbreviations to communicate to us, as if they have no time to speak properly? It's a mystery, but I hope the future will make a change for the better. Good job!
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