muteent

My faith in proper English has been shaken. I've been reading a book about the evolution of language, and I have discovered that the progression of language lies within its decay. English is nothing more than the "decay" of some proto-indo-european language that began long, long ago. My problem is that I now don't know whether to correct people on improper usage of grammar or general poor spelling. For example, a word like "wicked" that once meant evil now could also mean "great." Or, a word like "fast" which once only meant firmly in place, has for quite some time, also meant "very quick." The evolution of language lies within its decay. This is something that I've realized, but I'm not sure I can accept. I don't want "you" to become "u," but I think that's where we are heading. Like a great many other activities, language often caters to the lazy. I know that linguists of every generation think that their language is on the decline, but the internet and text messaging are tearing it up something fierce.

As a post script to this, I also realize that some of the fiction I like best and some of the things I try to write, tends to play with the form and function of language. For example, I love reading A Clockwork Orange and Irvine Welsh because of the language. When I write, I'm quite proud when I come up with new words that I feel convey what I'm trying to say better than word that already exist, i.e. Eurotopia=a europe that has brought nothing but good things to the person that is there. Corrupting things is ultimately how they change, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. I'm just angry about the corruptions that I don't agree with.