Blog-O-Shakespeare: English is Still Changing!

Friday, March 25, 2011

English is Still Changing!

I found this tweet this morning, and it made me realize: English is still a dynamic language and is changing/growing in vocabulary year by year.

What WOULD Shakespeare be thinking if he were around today? Would he really be crying? Do you guys think that the English language is becoming corrupted in our modern world? Or is it a good thing that we are adding such words to the dictionary?

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Lindsay Brock · 732 weeks ago

I do think we are perhaps a little too liberal in our country in adding words to the dictionary. However, I don't know that Shakespeare would disagree with such liberality seeing as how he was pretty keen on developing lots of new words that have been a blessing to the English language.
I think I draw the line with acronyms.

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JessicaV 57p · 731 weeks ago

I think those words are completely justified in being added to the OED. They've been around for more than 5 years and they're commonly used in speaking as well as writing. Shakespeare, as a wordsmith, would be just fine with the continually changing English language. The climate of "English is going to the dogs!" is completely ridiculous--English has always been dynamic and always will be until no one speaks it any more.

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clairehm07 37p · 731 weeks ago

In my Teaching Grammar class last semester (were you in that class too, Johnny?) my teacher talked about the fact that, unlike other languages, English doesn't have an academy that tries to preserve and control our language. English is become a very global language, and therefore it only makes sense that it will continuously be expanding and changing to fit the many groups of people that use it. I mean, think about it: we have taken in all kinds of words from other languages, and there are tons of accents and variations on the English language: ebonics, pidgin, cockney, etc. I think it the nature of the language that it change and expand. And like has already been said...Shakespeare made up so many words! He made the language work for his purposes, kind of like "text lingo" works for the purpose of its users. It's all about purpose, I think.

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Sara Castro 39p · 731 weeks ago

I think I draw the line with acronyms as well.
Yikes, I think this is terrifying. I agree with the point that Shakespeare made up words plenty of times, but I think OMG and LOL are more degrading to intelligence than anything Shakespeare came up with. Shakespeare used his creativity to invent words that were more descriptive or poignant. Today, we end up falling back on simple words like "good" or even worse, acronyms, to describe how or what we're feeling and doing. I think Shakespeare would not be too pleased with how the English language is evolving.

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Cara Call 44p · 731 weeks ago

Hey Johnny I am wondering if you still want to participate in the dramatic reading of a scene from one of the plays. If so, we talked about it in class today about it and cast roles. We are going to have a conversation via Skype and do the final scene of the tempest and if you want to participate you would be playing Alonso and/ or Ferdinand. We are going to do it during class on Friday so you would not need to come to class. I will post about this as well, but if you need more info feel free to respond to this or my post!

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Cara Call 44p · 731 weeks ago

Hey this might seem rude but it is the only way to contact you! You should check my blog ASAP. Thanks!

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Cara Call 44p · 731 weeks ago

Hey Johnny still waiting to see you on skype! Please read my blog and do the skype thing ASAP because others are waiting! Thank you again for your willingness to participate!

Blog-O-Shakespeare

Friday, March 25, 2011

English is Still Changing!

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