It is clear that the English Language has decayed overtime- this is evident when looking at how language is used online, amongst youth and how language is abbreviated or replaced by slang. However, some describe it as a natural shift from Old English to Modern English, caused by change in the world which must happen to keep up. To support this, I will refer to the works and theories of David Crystal, Jean Aitchison, Samuel Johnson and John Humphrys.
Jean Aitchison created multiple metaphors to describe the shift in the English Language; such as the ‘crumbling castle’ metaphor. This suggests that the language which was once ‘perfect’ is now deteriorating due to misuse. However, she also argued that languages should not align by a structure- as they are dynamic and ever-evolving to facilitate the change in society. Neologisms such as ‘emoji’ and ‘streaming’ are an example of how language has decayed from what it once was. These are new words which have been created due to technological change- meaning there is less desire for Standard English. Therefore, it could be argued that instead of decaying, English is adapting.
Another viewpoint is that English is just adapting to cater for everyone instead of decaying- David Crystal says that it is purely becoming more ‘versatile’. In his book, ‘Language and the Internet’, he says that the English Language is influenced by digital communication and argues that abbreviations, emojis, and new words enhance communication rather than degrade it. With the growth of the language, old words such as ‘thou’ and ‘thee’ have disappeared because English has been simplified. Now that we have a tool like the Internet, demand to use Standard English has decreased and new generations have grown up being used to only this standard of speech. There has also been a change in syntax- with phrases such as ‘I’m loving it’ being used as expression. This type of phrase doesn’t align with correct grammar use however it is overlooked because it has become a reliable way to deliver emotion.
To counteract these beliefs, Samuel Johnson (lexicographer) took a prescriptivist approach, claiming that we need to ‘fix’ the English Language. These views are seen in his book ‘A Dictionary of the English Language’ (1755), where he implied he aimed to ‘standardize’ the language. Johnson attempted to ‘fix’ grammar use by promoting rules from Latin influences. For example, by avoiding ending sentences with prepositions (e.g., "Who are you talking to?" corrected to "To whom are you talking?". He also viewed double negatives such as ‘I don’t need nothing’ as incorrect. However, towards the end of his project he understood and shifted to a descriptivist approach, that language must evolve as the world does.
Prescriptivist and Media Commentator John Humphrys argues that words such as ‘LOL’ and ‘u’ are reducing literacy skills amongst young people. He famously states that texting is comparable to ‘linguistic vandalism’. Humphrys is keen to maintain correct grammar use, such as with subject-verb agreements. For example, ‘My team are winning’ being incorrect, with ‘My team is winning’ being correct. The language has also seen an increase of word misuse, with words including ‘literally’ being used in wrong contexts. ‘I was literally dying’, implies that the statement is true, however when used in the wrong context, Humphrys views it as incorrect instead of seeing it as a way for people to be creative with language, utilizing its versatility. Due to digital communication, there has been a dramatic decline in correct punctuation use- it is rare for young people to use apostrophes where necessary over text, therefore he believed that this will permanently affect how young people use language, causing it to diminish overtime.
In conclusion, it is evident that language has ‘decayed’ overtime but it is easily viewed as adaption instead. With so many shifts and new technologies being introduced, language is bound to evolve under cultural and societal influence. So despite arguments claiming it is simply decay caused by misuse and neglect, I believe language is adapting successfully to quickly changing times. Language is a tool for identity and should be used how each individual chooses.
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