Language Evolution - R we NTS? Randometric Thoughts

[leedsb]

In my father's day, a gay young man was simply a happy, young guy; probably, chasing skirts.

Language, a funny thing.

And quickly changing at a speed never seen before. Will we understand our great grandchildren?

[Susie Q Roo]

I'm sure our great grandparents would have had a hard time understanding US!

[_Josephina_]

YouTube - Tim Mcgraw-Back When

[leedsb]

Originally Posted by Susie Q Roo

I'm sure our great grandparents would have had a hard time understanding US!

No question. I read novels from the late 1800s and am impressed by the shrinkage of verbage and commonplace vocabulary in today's world. I think advertising has taught us to be miserly with our words.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by leedsb

In my father's day, a gay young man was simply a happy, young guy; probably, chasing skirts.

Language, a funny thing.

And quickly changing at a speed never seen before. Will we understand our great grandchildren?

Just WTF are you trying to infer here?? LOL

[leedsb]

Originally Posted by Rissask

Just WTF are you trying to infer here?? LOL

Wellll- In today's world, I suppose it depends on who, (er what, oh whatever!) is wearing the skirt

Wait a minute - I saw those italics. Was I inferring or Implying? Hmmmm.

[Mogley]

Now days if you are chasing skirts, it is not a given that they will have women inside them.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by leedsb

Wellll- In today's world, I suppose it depends on who, (er what, oh whatever!) is wearing the skirt

Wait a minute - I saw those italics. Was I inferring or Implying? Hmmmm.

or maybe both at once?


Do Brits still say fag for cigarette?

Have you seen this site, leeds, it is really funny.

The Best of British - The American's guide to speaking British...


at least I think that is the one I remember...it's blocked here now

[leedsb]

Originally Posted by Rissask

or maybe both at once?


Do Brits still say fag for cigarette?

Have you seen this site, leeds, it is really funny.

The Best of British - The American's guide to speaking British...


at least I think that is the one I remember...it's blocked here now

That's interesting. Even more so because of the stuff that sounds familiar.

You read those though and realize why people get into trouble visiting other countries.

[sctx]

I'm just gald "bitchin" has now returned to it's original meaning...... as in "my wife is still bitchin at me" instead of "I think it's bitchin my wife bitches at me"

[ryberg]

Well just don't fall for the old "it ain't like it was in the good ol' days" view of language. There's a whole wealth of new vocabulary today, as well as new ways of structuring phrases and so on. Which goes on in all sorts of languages. When Spanish speakers can write me and say they're looking for a place to chilloutearse for a few days, I'm not worried.

I'd be more worried about language death, however. We're losing languages in this world at a remarkable rate, rather like the species dying off in the rainforest and so on.

Steve

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by ryberg

Well just don't fall for the old "it ain't like it was in the good ol' days" view of language. There's a whole wealth of new vocabulary today, as well as new ways of structuring phrases and so on. Which goes on in all sorts of languages. When Spanish speakers can write me and say they're looking for a place to chilloutearse for a few days, I'm not worried.

I'd be more worried about language death, however. We're losing languages in this world at a remarkable rate, rather like the species dying off in the rainforest and so on.

Steve

Sad, yes, but like the dodo and daily newspapers, unavoidable.

[leedsb]

Language death is a tragedy not only because of the loss of the language but also the culture behind it. It's another example of the loss of diversity which is occurring word wide.

Estimates indicate that between 3000 and 8000 different languages exist. According to the "Enthologue" published by Grimes, there are 6500 living languages. It's always amazed me that there is such variety among a populace with the same basic physiology.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by leedsb

Language death is a tragedy not only because of the loss of the language but also the culture behind it. It's another example of the loss of diversity which is occurring word wide.

Estimates indicate that between 3000 and 8000 different languages exist. According to the "Enthologue" published by Grimes, there are 6500 living languages. It's always amazed me that there is such variety among a populace with the same basic physiology.

Well, ten thousand years ago we were all living, scattered around the globe, in little separate isolated pockets of groups...it's only inevitable that today, we are losing that diversity.

Not that I don't think we should try to preserve languages, just saying it's sort of a natural thing to happen.

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by Rissask

Sad, yes, but like the dodo and daily newspapers, unavoidable.

Try telling that to those who have avoided it.

Steve