Language and Change

            In high school, I prided myself on being a grammar Nazi.*There was nothing I loved more than correcting other people’s grammar. You used “to” instead of “too?” Beware my mockery. “Alot” instead of “a lot?” Hah. I would read people’s xangas just to pick apart their syntax. Even text messages weren’t safe. I don’t know how I had friends. In high school, I was an idiot.

            The whole purpose of language is to communicate. At some point we are taught there are better, standard ways to communicate. However, this simply isn’t true. There is nothing inherently better about certain dialects of English than others. People speak what comes naturally to them, and that is what is correct. Language is also always changing. Words are constantly being created. Many of these changes are inspired by minorities. So when women begin speaking with vocal fry or African American Vernacular English challenges the accepted verb structure, the people who protest are those already in power. Suppressing language changes is simply another way of asserting dominance and enforcing the existing hegemony.

            As a nation, we should start accepting diversity in language. All forms of communication are valid. Language should be celebrated and not restricted. Different forms of communication like Facebook statuses and tweeting r not destroying the sanctity of English, they r allowing it 2 flourish :)

*Calling myself a Nazi was also a terrible move. Proudly comparing myself to a group of people responsible for the deaths of millions is beyond offensive, and I really regret it. 

A great article on vocal fry