future english

[hmmnmm]

It's late here, should call it a day soon and I will do so - but something I just now wondered about, and pardon if I don't express it so well or if is not even worth mentioning.
I was just wondering about the language of the future - say, twenty, thirty, fifty, a hundred years from now. You know how if you look at a passage of old old english say from four, five, six hundred years ago it is almost indecipherable to the average english speaking person today.
Do you think that with the ever increasing rapidity we are moving and evolving, that in say, a hundred years from now (or even less), the language we speak now will be as unintelligible to that generation as the engish from half a millenium ago is to us (or to a lot of us at least)?
Does this make sense?
No, it really doesn't matter.
Like I said, just something I wondered about and thought to throw it out.
Now I will press the Submit button and go to bed before regretting this frivolous post.

 

[Weird Harold]

Do you think that with the ever increasing rapidity we are moving and evolving, that in say, a hundred years from now (or even less), the language we speak now will be as unintelligible to that generation as the engish from half a millenium ago is to us (or to a lot of us at least)?

Nope, I think that dictionaries and "standardization" of the language, which didn't exist in Shakespear's day, will combine with mass media (i.e. "BBC English") to stabilize language and slow down the changes in the language.

There will always be some difficulty in understanding old documents because the frame of reference -- technology, urbanization, transient slang, etc -- is constantly changing. Pop Culture references from as little as twenty years ago are confusing to those who didn't live through them, but the core language has changed very little since the invention of the Telegraph and radio and television have homogenized "Proper English" even more so.

The advent of the Internet and Satelite TV is even erasing some of the American vs English differences in the language.

I see English as evolving even more slowly as communications expose the world to a common "standard" and only new technologies will add much to the language.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

I don't know. While dictionaries and the like will keep the brunt of english the same, I believe the general trend towards simplification will continue. I'm not saying that internet english will be the written english of the future, but that some trends may carry over. It may indeed be striking enough that an honest LOL usage in a novel may not be shocking in a hundred years time or what not and of course pop culture references and terms will constantly be added and thrown out or perpetuated, but knowing which ones is difficult.

 

[Guest]

in future...and ive been there, so i know, we will communicate with series of bleeps. its not nearly as lyrical as it is now. i missed conventional language when i went forward in time. *sigh*

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

in future...and ive been there, so i know, we will communicate with series of bleeps. its not nearly as lyrical as it is now. i missed conventional language when i went forward in time. *sigh*

BLEEP BLEEP BLEPBLIP BEEP BEBLIP. BLIP BLIP BLBLIPPY BLIPBLEEP. LOL.

BLIP.

 

[Guest]

BLEEP BLEEP BLEPBLIP BEEP BEBLIP. BLIP BLIP BLBLIPPY BLIPBLEEP. LOL.

BLIP.

sorry it took me so long to reply to this but ... your sultry tone made me so hot that i had to go....take care of matters.
damnit but you drive me insane. more... mmmmmmmore!

 

[snooper]

... and only new technologies will add much to the language.

I was with you 100% until this last caveat.

There are two areas where new words will be added which do not involve new technologies. One is what is called the "youth culture" where new usages of old words will remain common in order to exclude other age groups from the conversation. The other is what is termed "Political Correctness" where word meanings are perverted to provide a new euphemism for a nasty thought.

... I'm not saying that internet english will be the written english of the future, but that some trends may carry over. ...

Internet English does not overly worry me, but the use of txtng wds 2 say smthg does take all the poetry out of language.

 

[Weird Harold]

There are two areas where new words will be added which do not involve new technologies. One is what is called the "youth culture" where new usages of old words will remain common in order to exclude other age groups from the conversation. The other is what is termed "Political Correctness" where word meanings are perverted to provide a new euphemism for a nasty thought.

Both of those phenomenon have occurred before and are generally temporary things. Very little of what began as slang or "youth-speak" or "ploiticlly correct usage" has "stuck" in the language over the long term. I really don't expect the current or future manefestations to stick either -- at leas tnot enough to relly "change" the essentials of the language.

Internet English does not overly worry me, but the use of txtng wds 2 say smthg does take all the poetry out of language.

This is what I meant about "Technology" changing things.

Of course, all of my predictions presume that the educational system will eventully swing back to actually producing literate citizens. Rampant illiteracy will have far more profound effects on the language than anything else.

 

[hmmnmm]

---------

 

[NoJo]

Hmmm, just had an idea.

hmmnmm, you just had an idea.

(love that name!)

 

[Weird Harold]

Will a day come when people will actually speak this way: "That's a very interesting idea, but IMO... LOL!"

Nope, people won't speak that way, and like any "Jargon" filled with cryptic acronyms and specilized terms, it will confuse future historians.

However, "Jargons" and "Cants" seldom make a permanent mark (beyond their specialized sphere of usage) on the language as a whole.

 

[hmmnmm]

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[R. Richard]

Nope, people won't speak that way, and like any "Jargon" filled with cryptic acronyms and specilized terms, it will confuse future historians.

However, "Jargons" and "Cants" seldom make a permanent mark (beyond their specialized sphere of usage) on the language as a whole.

WH:
I tend to agree with you in general terms. However, unlike previous jargons, Internet jargon is being used by a very large group of people and, perhaps, ultimately by a majority of at least literate people. The scope of usage of Internet jargon may elevate it to a status never before achieved.

JMHO.

 

[wornoutkeyboard]

I'm just hoping that in the future, not only will I get the Jetson cars promised to me in childhood cartoons, but I will also hear a lot more people using the word "gad-zooks".

~WOK

PS~ An inspector gadget type uncle will suffice if nothing else

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

I don’t worry about fashionable slang — by the time you really learn how to incorporate it into your everyday vocabulary, you are s o o o two days ago . . .

Every vocation has its technical jargon, whether an uranologist claims he is attempting a transurethral needle ablation, or a waitress is imploring the cook: “sweep the kitchen, boil leaves, and don’t forget to haemorrhage” when she’s caught in a snowstorm. ("Whip me, beat me, triple-seat me.")

But considering the ironic word choice employed by government “compassionate” conservative, “clear” skies act, etc., I don’t wonder whether we will recognize the words. I question if we will be able to decipher their meanings.


Editted to add:

There is this to consider, also:

According to a sutdy at Hrravad Unerstiivy msot pelope can raed and unadetnrsd any mxied up wrod as lnog as the frsit leettr and the lsat lteter are in palce. This is bcesaue we raed wrods as a wolhe and not as leretts in oderr.

So y'oure smraetr tahn you thohgut hhu?

If you are not so smart:

TRANSLATION: According to a study at Harvard University, most people can read and understand any mixed up word as long as the first and the last letter are in place. This is because we read words as a whole and not as letters in order. So you're smarter than you though, huh?

 

[Weird Harold]

WH:
I tend to agree with you in general terms. However, unlike previous jargons, Internet jargon is being used by a very large group of people and, perhaps, ultimately by a majority of at least literate people.

The closest example I can think of is the number of people immersed in -- or at least conversant with -- the Military Jargon and Slang during WWII. There is surprising very little of what was on everyone's mind, if not lips, during the war that has made it into the permanent lexicon. Most of what did become a part of everyday English are the technical acronyms like RADAR, SONAR, and SNAFU which became words in their own right. Most people don't even realize they were originally acronyms.

What I see coming into main-stream language from internet jargon are the technical computer terms. The shorthand acronyms are staying pretty much in the casual communications -- like this forum or text messaging -- and not creeping into more formal written communications -- like news articles, technical papers and books.

The language IS evolving, but Jargons, Cants, and Slang are only marginally contributing to that evolution -- at least so far -- because they are usually temporary adaptations except where they describe new technologies the main-stream language can't describe.

 

[Guest]

With language, it's not always, and I don't think it ever will be WSYIWYG. TFFT!

 

[Op_Cit]

Don't forget that everyday words with long histories, change meaning over time as well, regardless of the existence of dictionaries.

In the 1790's the word "regulated" as in "well regulated millitia" was commonly used to mean "equipped", "ready/prepared", etc. Only in later years has common usage shifted this word to pretty much only be used in context of rules/law, and in the dictionaries this has become the common meaning.

There are many words today shifting or coming into common usage: If "flammable" and "inflammable" can come to coexist in the dictionary as acceptable, then how soon before "irregardless" gets in there? Oops, too late, it's on m-w.com.

Should we mention what a 1920's person thought "gay" meant? Do any of you use that word in regular speach in its 1920's definition? It may still be considered slang, but twenty years from now the prior meaning may only be a footnote in the dictionary.

 

[SeaCat]

In my most humble opinion,
The language we know as English today will have changed enough that what we sue now will be difficult to understand. In a way some of this will be due to the internet but not in the ways you have described. English is a language which is constantly adapting, changing the meanings of words, adding new words, and ropping words that are not used.

Now because of the internet and easy world travel we are adding words to our lexicon almost daily. Integrating them and using them until their usage becomes common. The main area these new words are coming from at this time is Spanish, but it will not be limited to it. (Think of words like Kindergarten, which comes from the German Language.) If you think about it you can read through any story and find several words with foreign roots, and this change is happening faster and faster now.

Cat

 

[hmmnmm]

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[Guest]

As for the effect of technology on language I think the only other comparable event was the invention of the printing press. Think on how that changed the world, let alone language, and you might have an idea of how the net will change things now.

English came out of several languages, and I presume now with the net, it will continue this type of evolution. I can't guess how substantive it will be, but it will happen.

It isn't only the words either; technology has already made a difference in how we perceive the world. Children are more exposed to imagery than language now, even in schools.

Perdita

 

[Wildcard Ky]

Political correctness will have more impact on the future of the language than anything else.

PC dictates that we drop certain words and phrases from what we would consider normal usage. Words like Indian, midget, etc.

PC also dicatates that we must be sensitive to things like Ebonics and Spanglish. Ebonics and Spanglish are quickly gaining a foothold in our society, and acceptance of them is demanded in some circles. If this trend continues, think of how much impact it will have on the spoken language in 50 years.

 

[Xelebes]

Written, edited English in the form of published literature will not change much but colloquialisms will change with the furthered addition of words and phrases from other languages. Though saying that, the grammar won't change much other than the intentional bad grammar offered from "Engrish". I do not expect the language to change much in 20 to 100 years. In the last 100 years there wasn't much of a change. 500 years from now will be different, that is something certain. It just takes something catastrophic like a war that dethrones certain nations from the top to change it all.

 

[SeaCat]

This may be slightly off-topic because it is not about specific words but does not the Internet, being what it is, encourage concision and discourage the wandering winding roundabout approach to the expression of an idea, that is if one wants another to see and understand the idea? Not only the internet, but more people are on the internet and absorbing its influence than even five years, three years, two years ago (myself for one). So, not only the details of verbal communication have changed, are changing and will continue to change - and at an astounding rate - but the general means to the details.
Right?
Or something?
So maybe the better question is something like: if the english language is changing as it is and at the rate it is, how much is this due to the impact of the internet? If the internet did not exist would the language still be changing/evolving as it is?

Hmmnmm,

I believe that the English language would still be changing/evolving even if we didn't have the internet. It just wouldn't be doing so at quite the pace it is doing so now.

Cat

 

[SeaCat]

Political correctness will have more impact on the future of the language than anything else.

PC dictates that we drop certain words and phrases from what we would consider normal usage. Words like Indian, midget, etc.

PC also dicatates that we must be sensitive to things like Ebonics and Spanglish. Ebonics and Spanglish are quickly gaining a foothold in our society, and acceptance of them is demanded in some circles. If this trend continues, think of how much impact it will have on the spoken language in 50 years.

W-K,

I understand what you are saying but I don't know how much of this change is from PC or if it is just from the inevitable evolution of our language.

Also if I recall correctly isn't Ebonics what they call a man made language as opposed to a "natural Language" such as English or Spanish? (Spanglish can't be considered this because it is a mixture of two pre-existing languages. If I recall the articles I read on this correctly.)

Ebonics is something I haven't heard much about for the past couple of years. Has it died out? Spanglish on the other hand is slowly building not only in usage but in acceptance.

My view on language is that sometime in the future we will have a universal language. Maybe based on English, maybe on something else. That language will have roots and words based in all languages though.

Cat

Have you never had an idea which could not be properly expressed by an English word, but was clearly described in a word from another language? That is the basis of a languages evolution.