Re: OT: Verbal Pet Peeves

mythdoc wrote:
I understand your point of view, and I concede that my analogy to tennis is not airtight. How could it be? It was meant to put a notion in humorous relief. But you have given a definition of language that ignores the idea of *quality* of communication, and what it contributes to our civilization. (Is the idea of qualitative standards for language too authoritarian for you?) Cave men learned how to communicate with simple words, grunts and gestures. Then language became a means to enlightening the spirit and intellect. We are now dumbing it back down, with consequent loss to the spirit and intellect.

There-in lies the issue: judging if these changes to the language are truly "dumbing it back down" and incurring a "loss to the spirit and intellect". I know I'm certainly not qualified to make those judgments, and would be skeptical of those who do claim to be so gifted. Much more skeptical if said judgments of a language change are made while said change is still "in progress".

Cheers,

-Ryan

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