Language

Language constantly evolves, both on a personal basis and on a cultural one. Gloria talks about how certain communities, left isolated from the larger groups that spoke their language, adapted different language traits than those who remained in the “mainstream”. This is evolution: a language evolves to fit the environment where it is spoken and the people who speak it. This happens constantly and it happens everywhere any language is spoken. It is, however, a long-term phenomenon, much as genetic evolution is. We do not necessarily see our language evolving (although one could make the case that our computer language and “leet speek” is in fact an evolution in our language), but on a larger scale we can see how our version of English has changed from the version spoken in Britain. This separation and co-evolution has shown how language grows and changes. The language I speak often changes based on the setting I am in. In a formal classroom setting I use more esoteric words to express complicated meanings and to show off my considerable vocabulary. In a one-on-one setting with a peer I will talk more like a teenager and use slang that would never cross my lips in a classroom setting. Everyone adapts their language to fit their situation, and I am no different.