40 replies to this topic

[Calvary]

True that, I was thinking something similar on the way home from a cafe today, the deterioration of the English language is so noticeably substantial it's disastrous to me. I can't confess to understand or know how the Victorian English spoke commonly, but if anything can be gleaned from Victorian novels, such as A Picture of Dorian Grey, we've lost a lot of impetus in the evolution of our language. It's a crime, how the degradation of time has worn away how we speak, from the eloquence of the 1800s-1900s, to 2012. I can't even say I rise above it, when I'm in familiar company I bastardise my lexis and my accent into something all together shameful! XD

Does that make any sense? Probably not.

[SpleenBeGone]

No, it does. I don't think it's a shame though, I find it very interesting how different areas bastardize it in different ways.

[Calvary]

It's not I don't find it interesting, I just think that we've been granted an enormous vocabulary, far larger than any other language in the world, and we don't harness its full potential, even in modern novels, let alone everyday discourse.

[SpleenBeGone]

Yeah, I agree with that, most people have a very small vocabulary compared to what's available to them.

[Calvary]

Directly proportionate to how much you read. Those who read less, obviously appreciate less, the English/ American-English language as a whole.

[SpleenBeGone]

No necessarily I think. I normally use simpler sentences both because I can't say some words properly due to my accent, and the people around me don't know what I'm talking about.

[Calvary]

Mhmm, but you still know the words you want to say but can't, for whatever restraint, I imagine you have a comprehensive understanding and thus, an appreciation of English? And I imagine you read somewhat regularly, time permitting?

[SpleenBeGone]

Yes, I read a lot of technical articles and such. I spend a ton of time on sites like wikipedia and the Today I learned section of reddit.

As far as my reading comprehension, I scored college level in 4th grade. Not sure how much that means with our school system, but still. >.>

[Calvary]

Well there you go then, it means nothing to you of course, but I would certainly define you as a learned person with an appreciation of English. Without sounding too condescending. XD

I forgot what my point was though...

I guess you just get a free compliment!

[SpleenBeGone]

Head size +1

[evilevilmonkey]

Huh, interesting conversation. I can't say I expected to come across a conversation about the modern bastardisation of the english language when I came into diversity forum. I was just coming here to say I'm an odd mix of races. Whilst I was born in Australia I have no australian blood. I'm a first generation australian my mother is South African & my father Is Scottish. But I find the topic of the bastardisation of the english language so compelling I feel the need to join in on this conversation. Which is incredibly ironic in itself as I live in Australia probably one of the worst countries for bastardising the english language & I myself must have one of the strangest accents imaginable being a mix of south african, scottish & australian. But I think it is a terrible shame that having extensive vocabulary is also frowned upon these days. I grew up as an only child & my parents never spoke down to me, they spoke to me no differently than they would of spoken to an adult. Also my father who has always been very academic decided to teach me how to read before I started school. So I suppose that when I started school I had a rather extensive vocabulary for a 4 year old. Unfortunately of course the other children weren't impressed by an extensive vocabulary, they thought I was weird. Of course after a while I learnt that I had speak differently to the other children than how I spoke at home. I then made a few friends that I remained friends with throughout the rest of school. However I think it is a shame that more people don't teach their children, how my parents taught me. I think it would be wonderful to see more people use the english language to its full potential.

[SpleenBeGone]

That sounds like an awesome mix.

I agree, if more parents taught their children at least the basics before school, it would be much better.

[Calvary]

Simply must find a Daily Mail article on the dissent of society and the degradation of moral values in context to English language and literature.

[twa]

PUERTORICAN HERE!! Yooo! XD

[SpleenBeGone]

Nice to see. Hopefully we keep spreading out.

[Calvary]

We should get an IP map so we can see where people are logging into the website from across the world. =D

[twa]

Nice idea o-o Also, there are a lot of geeks and nerds at my University. Its cuss its an art/video game/animation Uni. Its caled Atlantic University College :3
http://www.atlanticu.edu/index.php BEST university in PR. After I'm done with my bachelor's degree, I'm hopefully going to Full Sail in Orlando ~ But, were not talking about college xD

[SpleenBeGone]

We should get an IP map so we can see where people are logging into the website from across the world. =D

I had one for a site a long time ago, I'll see if I can find out what a good one is now. Analytics gives me a map, but it's nothing that can be publicly shown.

Nice idea o-o Also, there are a lot of geeks and nerds at my University. Its cuss its an art/video game/animation Uni. Its caled Atlantic University College :3
http://www.atlanticu.edu/index.php BEST university in PR. After I'm done with my bachelor's degree, I'm hopefully going to Full Sail in Orlando ~ But, were not talking about college xD

That's pretty awesome.
You should let some of your nerdier friends know about the place.

[twa]

Yeah tomorrow I'm gonna ask around, see thing is that most of my friends are asses xD They'd wreck this place up!

[SpleenBeGone]

Thanks.

Yeah, asses will get banned. >.>