Quote:
Originally Posted by DewarHolmes
I personally don't intend to become militant over the subject (in general-not specifically on this forum) for I think that my time could be used in better ways, but I will encourage the proper usage of the English language and continue in my attempt to properly utilize words, grammar, spelling, etc.
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But
WHO decides the "proper" use of English? Language is fluid, and constantly changing. The proper use in one social group differs from that of another - Just as it does between different ages, different locations, etc.
Language simply doesn`t change to become less useful - it evolves to make it the most suitable for the times and the people using it. The trends of language can really show you a lot about that era - and I do not mean that in a negative way.
Something we have to keep in mind; The language we use and consider "proper"
now only became so because the people who were around before us (people we learned from) used it. Some large chunk of the language they used came from those who came before, but the remainder was coined by their peers. Over generations and generations, language changes
dramatically. The "mutilation" that stuck around is exactly what we are now using as "proper". I mean, look back 200 years, 500 years, 1000 years...
Another surprising bit might be that many things you consider "deterioration" are actually parts of the language that have been around longer than the "proper" bits.
Sorry to drop so off topic, but... Well, I`m an actual linguist.
