I'm finding this right now while writing my novel. The narration is pretty linguistically clean. The dialog however ends up starting with a conjunction, ending with prepositions, split infinitives everywhere.... But that's how we talk.
Hemmingway was one of the first successful authors to do this! I remember how different his stuff was than the rest of the writing at the time, but I also remember thinking how similar it was to more modern writing (in the 80s) when I was first reading Hemingway.
You know, my grammar isn’t the best, Andrew. I write how I talk, often times I go too fast. Then add being a busy mom on top of that, and sometimes I can’t be bothered to edit. Or rather, I forget! I think, f’ it, they’ll figure out what I meant and go about living my life. Then I walk around clueless why I have so many miscommunications in my life. 😂 🤦🏻♀️ I’ll go back and read some text or email I sent and will be embarrassed or mortified because there will be a typo that completely changes the tone or meaning of my message! Funny what a little “is” or “isn’t” can do. Words are extensions of our energy and this is a good reminder that I shouldn’t be so carless with my own and make sure I am editing to the best of my ability so I don’t across as such a dope all the time. ☺️
Anyways, I am terribly behind here and am hoping to catch up! Thanks for sharing, as always. I do enjoy your content so very much.
Take your time, Kaiha! You're no dope, but we all can use a little help with communication. I've worked hard on this over the last decade, and it's astounding how badly I still screw up from time to time.
Another piece to reflect on, thanks, Andrew! As a navigator of languages, I have witnessed and experienced some shifts in both English and French. I studied mostly British English, but then American English took over. There is always a battle of styles within one language: I am an actor and witness to it. Above all my English ends up being an organic patchwork.
As I have always evolved in bilingual environments, both languages had no other choice than to live together. There are many power scenes made of surrender, takeover, and peace flags.
In French it is also the case, so many new words and we even went the extra mile to bring genders into our language (not a success so far, people find it too mechanical - " écriture inclusive " or "inclusive writing"). French is not as direct as English, and it is not as neutral either, it is packed with many subtilities and underlining truths. Our "sayings" most of the time are hilarious with visual clues.
I love languages, they are good friends and teachers. I believe it is normal for some to surprise us as they grow with people and the era.
Hopefully, we learn and improve. daily! I have become an avid user of translations, Grammarly, and my patchwork English 😄.
Thanks, Keva! You've raised some great points here. The "peace flags" and takeovers give a great mental image of two languages fighting for survival against one another! On the flip side, there are also marriages between languages (creoles) that I find so interesting. Something brand new can arise from the intersection of two existing things.
True, hybrid languages that inherit and transcend their parents are fascinating. I think of pidgin (village english), franglish, French in Quebec or Belgium. And even Scandinavian countries like Denmark and Sweden have patterns of expressions to study.
I agree! Especially since English is not my mother language, which makes me even more confused.
Lately, I've watched a few TV shows where people say a lot of "try and", as in "I'm going to try and do that". I learned that the right way to say it was "try to". And this shift was made suddenly, at a point where I started to wonder if I was in a parallel reality where everybody talks that way... am I? Hahah!
I was lucky enough to have a teacher who said she was teaching us the rules so we would know how and when to break them. So, I'm okay with most usage ... with the exception of "me and ..." as in "Me and Sarah were going." That one still breaks me. .... And as far as "is, is" ... I think my typing fingers would rebel. Thanks!
I'm personally annoyed by people using "as well" and "also" in the same sentence. I'm seeing it quite often in business context: "Also, we've grown our year-on-year revenue, as well" or "And we've also recently secured a new client as well." I feel like you have to pick just one!
Irregardless, I guess the thing is, is that it's something we'll have to live with. Right?
No, we don't! I think we have to live with the ones that have serious momentum, like irregardless... but I'm not sure the double is will stay. "As well" + "too" definitely have no business in the same sentence if they're doing the same job. We should resist!
University English as a Foreign Language teacher here. I have to admit that it is frustrating to teach basic grammar skills only to have students find gazillions of counter-examples such as "This is a photo of he and I," or "She told my mother and I." No, no, no! People can't be bothered to use the correct pronouns in they're sentences? (@dorkbrendan) ;-) How confusing it must be for language learners!
This morning at 2:00 a.m. when I couldn’t sleep, I remembered your main point, that languages evolve. I remember a professor I had a long time ago who said there are two grammars. One is the one we learn in school. The other is the living grammar of those who actually use the language. That one breaks the rules of the first one. It’s the one that pushes the envelope.
There is also the more recent theory of “World Englishes,” and this takes into account the wide variety of Englishes (yes, that word can be used in the plural!) that are found around the globe. Each region or area develops its own particular form of the language. In a way, I would hope that it gives some power to those who use it. Linguistic imperialism has taken root around the world, and seeing local changes reflecting various societies brings hope for change in that power structure. (Am I being hypocritical?)
Japanese is well-known for developing words that are considered English but that an English speaker would not understand. I guess I’m asking where we draw the line. At some point, will people still be able to communicate through “English”? Will the language eventually be pared down to essential words that everyone agrees on? (On which everyone agrees? ;-)
Thank you for the thought-provoking article, Andrew!
Louise, I am so glad we have something curious to discuss! I see a real paradox here: on one hand, we have more and more bifurcations, places where a new language sort of splits off from another, and where new languages grab pieces of other languages. The effect here is to make everything less standard.
On the other hand, we have incredible standardization due to platforms everyone has to use, and due to LLMs homogenizing the way people write ("In a world where.... tapestry woven...."). These two forces are battling against one another.
I think spoken language may have a finite lifespan as a primary means of communicating with someone nearby, too, but that's another conversation for another day!
I've never thought about the double is, really...but I rather dislike redundancy, so I get your annoyance. I can remember as a kid being told not to say "ain't," cos it wasn't a real word. So I loved the phrase "Ain't ain't a word, and I ain't gonna say it," as well as the glee I felt when someone finally pointed out that it was now actually in the dictionary.
As a former copy editor trained in AP Style, I have my preferences on how to write a bunch of things. You will never get me to write towards, for example. Toward is the proper usage. I don't often run into the double is (I've never even heard of the double is), but now that you've mentioned it, I'm sure I'll see it more.
A very fascinating and timely read. I am fascinated to see how words like 'tapestry' and 'unveiling' are making headways thanks to their repetitive usage by ChatGPT. Now with LLMs, the evolution of languages has taken an interesting new turn with not just humans but also computers influencing the language we speak.
I love puzzling over this stuff. In another life, I would have been a linguist, or at least just paid more to grammar in high school! I actually just posted something I wrote about how language evolves on my Substack if anyone’s into that topic, although I focus more on metaphor in my piece. Check it out!
I'm finding this right now while writing my novel. The narration is pretty linguistically clean. The dialog however ends up starting with a conjunction, ending with prepositions, split infinitives everywhere.... But that's how we talk.
Hemmingway was one of the first successful authors to do this! I remember how different his stuff was than the rest of the writing at the time, but I also remember thinking how similar it was to more modern writing (in the 80s) when I was first reading Hemingway.
You know, my grammar isn’t the best, Andrew. I write how I talk, often times I go too fast. Then add being a busy mom on top of that, and sometimes I can’t be bothered to edit. Or rather, I forget! I think, f’ it, they’ll figure out what I meant and go about living my life. Then I walk around clueless why I have so many miscommunications in my life. 😂 🤦🏻♀️ I’ll go back and read some text or email I sent and will be embarrassed or mortified because there will be a typo that completely changes the tone or meaning of my message! Funny what a little “is” or “isn’t” can do. Words are extensions of our energy and this is a good reminder that I shouldn’t be so carless with my own and make sure I am editing to the best of my ability so I don’t across as such a dope all the time. ☺️
Anyways, I am terribly behind here and am hoping to catch up! Thanks for sharing, as always. I do enjoy your content so very much.
Take your time, Kaiha! You're no dope, but we all can use a little help with communication. I've worked hard on this over the last decade, and it's astounding how badly I still screw up from time to time.
Another piece to reflect on, thanks, Andrew! As a navigator of languages, I have witnessed and experienced some shifts in both English and French. I studied mostly British English, but then American English took over. There is always a battle of styles within one language: I am an actor and witness to it. Above all my English ends up being an organic patchwork.
As I have always evolved in bilingual environments, both languages had no other choice than to live together. There are many power scenes made of surrender, takeover, and peace flags.
In French it is also the case, so many new words and we even went the extra mile to bring genders into our language (not a success so far, people find it too mechanical - " écriture inclusive " or "inclusive writing"). French is not as direct as English, and it is not as neutral either, it is packed with many subtilities and underlining truths. Our "sayings" most of the time are hilarious with visual clues.
I love languages, they are good friends and teachers. I believe it is normal for some to surprise us as they grow with people and the era.
Hopefully, we learn and improve. daily! I have become an avid user of translations, Grammarly, and my patchwork English 😄.
Thanks, Keva! You've raised some great points here. The "peace flags" and takeovers give a great mental image of two languages fighting for survival against one another! On the flip side, there are also marriages between languages (creoles) that I find so interesting. Something brand new can arise from the intersection of two existing things.
This is precisely what I wrote about today:
https://goatfury.substack.com/p/you-heard-it-here-first
True, hybrid languages that inherit and transcend their parents are fascinating. I think of pidgin (village english), franglish, French in Quebec or Belgium. And even Scandinavian countries like Denmark and Sweden have patterns of expressions to study.
Organic identities nobody can put in a box 🙂
Thanks, I will give it read 👌
Patois, creoles, and new languages! You can see the steps they take in that direction. It's so interesting to watch it evolve in real time.
They’re there, at their party.
I’m actually annoyed by the use of actually in headlines of articles, actually.
I agree! Especially since English is not my mother language, which makes me even more confused.
Lately, I've watched a few TV shows where people say a lot of "try and", as in "I'm going to try and do that". I learned that the right way to say it was "try to". And this shift was made suddenly, at a point where I started to wonder if I was in a parallel reality where everybody talks that way... am I? Hahah!
That's an excellent observation, and a great example of the way language evolves right in front of our eyes!
I was lucky enough to have a teacher who said she was teaching us the rules so we would know how and when to break them. So, I'm okay with most usage ... with the exception of "me and ..." as in "Me and Sarah were going." That one still breaks me. .... And as far as "is, is" ... I think my typing fingers would rebel. Thanks!
I know, hoi polloi is running rampant.
What you say the hoi polloi? But hoi is "the" - so that's the the many. Absurd.
These guys appreciate the clarification: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oi_Polloi
More ways the English language goes a stray.
Delightfully in many cases, I might add.
I'm personally annoyed by people using "as well" and "also" in the same sentence. I'm seeing it quite often in business context: "Also, we've grown our year-on-year revenue, as well" or "And we've also recently secured a new client as well." I feel like you have to pick just one!
Irregardless, I guess the thing is, is that it's something we'll have to live with. Right?
No, we don't! I think we have to live with the ones that have serious momentum, like irregardless... but I'm not sure the double is will stay. "As well" + "too" definitely have no business in the same sentence if they're doing the same job. We should resist!
I wrote just double 😝 lol
University English as a Foreign Language teacher here. I have to admit that it is frustrating to teach basic grammar skills only to have students find gazillions of counter-examples such as "This is a photo of he and I," or "She told my mother and I." No, no, no! People can't be bothered to use the correct pronouns in they're sentences? (@dorkbrendan) ;-) How confusing it must be for language learners!
Yes! English is such a crazy language to learn. I'm so glad I had the advantage of learning from birth.
Very frustrating to see all those rules being discarded, though. I know it's evolution, but my "sunk cost fallacy" hackles are rising!
This morning at 2:00 a.m. when I couldn’t sleep, I remembered your main point, that languages evolve. I remember a professor I had a long time ago who said there are two grammars. One is the one we learn in school. The other is the living grammar of those who actually use the language. That one breaks the rules of the first one. It’s the one that pushes the envelope.
There is also the more recent theory of “World Englishes,” and this takes into account the wide variety of Englishes (yes, that word can be used in the plural!) that are found around the globe. Each region or area develops its own particular form of the language. In a way, I would hope that it gives some power to those who use it. Linguistic imperialism has taken root around the world, and seeing local changes reflecting various societies brings hope for change in that power structure. (Am I being hypocritical?)
Japanese is well-known for developing words that are considered English but that an English speaker would not understand. I guess I’m asking where we draw the line. At some point, will people still be able to communicate through “English”? Will the language eventually be pared down to essential words that everyone agrees on? (On which everyone agrees? ;-)
Thank you for the thought-provoking article, Andrew!
Louise, I am so glad we have something curious to discuss! I see a real paradox here: on one hand, we have more and more bifurcations, places where a new language sort of splits off from another, and where new languages grab pieces of other languages. The effect here is to make everything less standard.
On the other hand, we have incredible standardization due to platforms everyone has to use, and due to LLMs homogenizing the way people write ("In a world where.... tapestry woven...."). These two forces are battling against one another.
I think spoken language may have a finite lifespan as a primary means of communicating with someone nearby, too, but that's another conversation for another day!
I've never thought about the double is, really...but I rather dislike redundancy, so I get your annoyance. I can remember as a kid being told not to say "ain't," cos it wasn't a real word. So I loved the phrase "Ain't ain't a word, and I ain't gonna say it," as well as the glee I felt when someone finally pointed out that it was now actually in the dictionary.
As a former copy editor trained in AP Style, I have my preferences on how to write a bunch of things. You will never get me to write towards, for example. Toward is the proper usage. I don't often run into the double is (I've never even heard of the double is), but now that you've mentioned it, I'm sure I'll see it more.
Kristi, I apologize in advance: you won't be able to un-hear it. Sincerely, this will grate on your nerves.
Have you un-trained yourself from doing two spaces after a period? I did, but it took a few angry years.
Lol. I have never personally had the double space issue, but it drives me crazy when I still see it.
"Electronic Keyboarding" in high school ingrained this one deeply in me!
A very fascinating and timely read. I am fascinated to see how words like 'tapestry' and 'unveiling' are making headways thanks to their repetitive usage by ChatGPT. Now with LLMs, the evolution of languages has taken an interesting new turn with not just humans but also computers influencing the language we speak.
"In a world where.... woven into the tapestry of..."
Ugh!
😂
I love puzzling over this stuff. In another life, I would have been a linguist, or at least just paid more to grammar in high school! I actually just posted something I wrote about how language evolves on my Substack if anyone’s into that topic, although I focus more on metaphor in my piece. Check it out!
https://jamessarsgard.substack.com/p/the-art-of-taboo-deformation
Neat! I like metaphors, too.... maybe a little too much!
*come across as such a dope.