Is English dead?

[70SWT]

First, let me say that, sooner or later, we all commit intermittent grammatical or typographical errors when we write. I am sure I am as guilty of that as any.

But, lately, a particular systematic error seems to be very popular for some folks in setting after setting. Here is an example from a post here (and no offense intended to the OP, but it is a perfect example):

"...outlets like a Motorcycle Exhaust And Put a Baffle in them. But to Find a Baffle! The Closest I could find was..."

You've surely spotted it - random capitalized words in a sentence, perhaps based on some unknown logic. Are these words that seem so important to the author that we need to disregard the normal process of writing English? I have no idea. Where did this tendency start?

I'll bet some will say "so what." But when you stop caring about the relatively little things in life (and these errors wouldn't be considered little in any formal writing scenario), then eventually the big things suffer, too. Can the language be saved? Or are we inevitably creeping into the "Idiocracy" scenario?

[wdfifteen]

With the increased use of emoji we are moving toward a Chinese style image based written language. I don’t get it and I don’t like it, a few used to express emotion are ok, but they are getting to be so many and getting so similar I don’t know what half of them mean.

[dewolf]

I read somewhere a while ago that a study of 12 year olds, couldn't recognize some facial expressions, but knew just about every facial emoji off by heart.

[Alan A]

Loose vs lose drives me nuts.
Such a simple mistake but made so often.

[HardDrive]

I could honestly not give fewer ****s.

****** boomers.

[Por_sha911]

We have an entire generation who were raised without learning cursive writing and computers with grammar and spell check. Their main form of communication is 140 characters or less (albeit now they are allowed 280). Why would we be shocked when communication has degraded as it has?

[john70t]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

With the increased use of emoji we are moving toward a Chinese style image based written language.

Convenient timing.
I just going to ask about the Mona Lisa.

[cstreit]

Pedal vs Peddle vs Petal is my biggest pet peeve. (Given we sell brake systems, I see it a lot)

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

We have an entire generation who were raised without learning cursive writing and computers with grammar and spell check. Their main form of communication is 140 characters or less (albeit now they are allowed 280). Why would we be shocked when communication has degraded as it has?

One person's concept of degradation is advancement to another; it all depends on personal bias.

[Bill Douglas]

I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE WHO SHOUT as I'm quite sensitive

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

With the increased use of emoji we are moving toward a Chinese style image based written language. I don’t get it and I don’t like it, a few used to express emotion are ok, but they are getting to be so many and getting so similar I don’t know what half of them mean.

My mother is 78, never had the internet at home, or used a computer, but has an iPhone that she uses for calling, texting, picture taking and sending, and checking local weather; she absolutely loves emojis and uses them all throughout her text messages to me and everyone else she communicates with (replacing words, and often partial sentences with them), simply because she thinks it's fun.

[Tobra]

Not quite dead, terminally ill perhaps.

[Tervuren]

Eh, isn't this a sign that it is alive?

A dead language doesn't have changes.

You may be viewing a post written by a German.
They have different capital letter usage.

[HardDrive]

Snore.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Rawknees'Turbo

One person's concept of degradation is advancement to another; it all depends on personal bias.

I like this sentiment. Sure, lots of on-line and social media spelling and grammar errors make me cringe, but look at where the English language was at the signing of the Declaration of Independence vs where it was during FDR's fireside chats. Both were different versions of the language that we learned in the 60's or 70's or 80's.

Modern people need modern language that changes with the times.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Years ago reasonably intelligent people, moderately intelligent, average, below average and truly unintelligent people both self-selected and were forced by societal differences to interact mostly within their own group. Obviously some overlap across every level but people stayed in their own herd comfort zone for the most part.

The Web dramatically changed this paradigm. Now everyone's voice is heard by everyone and each has equal importance and volume, no matter the content, grammar, spelling, etc.

That Web has changed the bell curve into a circle with everyone shouting toward the center.

[john70t]

Electronic venues opened the path to divide and manipulate all of human communication.

[rusnak]

I will stab my computer one of these days after seeing the use of apostrophe "S" in the plural sense.

Ex: Boomer's can not use proper grammar.

Or: 911's are not suitable platform's for premium sound systems.

[petrolhead611]

The most seen example in England is:.
Fish & Chip's
I frequently notice printed materials and signwritten vehicles and shop signage with glaring abuses of the language, and wonder whether the producers of such bloopers are uneducated themselves or just following the orders of the rabble who are spending the money.
Twenty or more years ago, received an invitation to a 'canopies and chanpagne' to celebrate the re-opening of an hotel. I, not so innocently, rang the establishment to enquire as to size of said canopies mentioning that I represented my cover making firm , only to be spoken to so condescendingly by the Functions Manager who troubled herself to explain that the objects in question were small open sandwiches befitting a high class establishment .
I then advised their Head Office that some urgent retraining was needed at the branch local to me. Needless to say, the embarrassed director in charge of group entertainment thanked me for my report. ,

[porsche tech]

To instead of too and then instead of than is common on this forum. Could you imagine being a foreigner trying to learn English?