Random annoyance at modern colloquial language.

  • Context: Lingusitics 
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the perceived decline of modern colloquial language, particularly among younger generations. Participants express their frustrations with slang usage, language evolution, and the impact of informal communication on proper English. The scope includes theoretical reflections on language, personal anecdotes, and critiques of contemporary linguistic trends.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion over the dual meanings of phrases like "this is the s**t" versus "this is s**t," questioning the logic behind such colloquialisms.
  • Others reference cultural critiques, such as Orwell's ideas on language, suggesting that modern slang may reflect deeper societal issues.
  • A participant mentions a South Park episode that humorously addresses the frequency of certain slang terms.
  • Concerns are raised about the overuse of phrases like "as hell," with some participants finding specific usages irksome.
  • There is a discussion about the evolution of language, with some attributing the shift in meaning to context sensitivity and others questioning the origins of positive connotations for traditionally negative words.
  • Some participants argue that younger generations are reusing existing vocabulary rather than expanding their lexicon, leading to a perceived laziness in language use.
  • Critiques are made regarding the lack of capitalization and formal writing standards among younger users, with some expressing disappointment in the decline of proper English usage.
  • One participant suggests that informal communication styles may hinder understanding in more formal contexts, such as forums.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express dissatisfaction with modern colloquial language, but there is no consensus on whether this is a significant issue or simply a natural evolution of language. Multiple competing views exist regarding the implications of slang and informal writing practices.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include varying definitions of what constitutes "proper" language, the subjective nature of annoyance with colloquialisms, and the impact of informal communication on clarity and understanding.

  • #91
! Dubya !

Lets not forget the contributions that our beloved Dubya has made. Hispanically speaking, we should be cautious of our strategeries. "This is historic times" and "This is an historic times" are also examples of modern colloquial grammar.

http://www.dubyaspeak.com/grammarian.shtml

In addition to the "gangsta" references, there is also the popular "thug" reference. Now everyone wants to be a thug, and its connotation has shifted from being petty to being cool. But then again, that is probably inline with the "gangsta" references. There is also the cryptic "fo' shizzle my nizzle" phrase...
 
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  • #92
Without grammar rules, we couldn't have had nearly so much fun playing with words last night. If we just randomly threw made-up words into a sentence that had no structure, it would have been very hard to figure out the meaning of those words, or even whether they were nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. Once you know the rules, you can then take license to break the rules, which can be quite a lot of fun!
 
  • #93
you rebel you
 
  • #94
tribdog said:
you rebel you

That's me. The school librarian would tremble behind the circulation desk when I walked in ready to brutalize the language for the sake of entertainment. :-p
 

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