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That's not a very compelling argument. edit: The comparison to Shakespeare just seems kind of off, but beyond that, I never argued that the vernacular / slang

That's not a very compelling argument. edit: The comparison to Shakespeare just seems kind of off, but beyond that, I never argued that the vernacular / slang being generated today wouldn't be used or become accepted by society at large.

jasode 11y ago
To me, the follow 2 sentences look like they contradict each other: >It's not progress of culture or language, simply an increase of quantity of slang >, I never argued that the vernacular / slang being generated today wouldn't be used or become accepted by society at large. If those 2 sentences are not contradictions, can you clarify your comment? Isn't "accepted by society at large" part of what culture __is__ ?
- justathrow2k 11y ago
  Something being accepted by society does not imply progress.
  - jasode 11y ago
    You're using "progress" as a judgement of something that's "better" or "improved" ... like "technological progress". A "language progress" is a movement in usage and meaning. We "progressed" from "thy" "thee" to "your" "you" etc. It doesn't mean the words starting with "y" are "better" or "clearer" (in fact, they are the opposite of the previous formal/informal distinctions.) Nevertheless, language/culture has moved on.
    - justathrow2k 11y ago
      I agree with the example of the macro usage of thy->thee->you/your as being an instance of progression, but I don't see the current trends in internet slang as a parallel example of something that will have such a long lasting effect on our language as a whole, but instead, well, just what I said, I see it as a trend that will eventually be a ghost. This is a prediction, of course.
    - musername 11y ago
      it's called pro-gress. the optimistic interpretation is for a move to the better
    - musername 11y ago
      it's called pro-gress. the optimistic interpretation is for a move to the better
  - robotresearcher 11y ago
    There is no progress. English is not better than it used to be. It was not wrong in Shakespeare's day and it's not wrong now. We have new words for new things. Adaptation is not progress.

jasode 11y ago

To me, the follow 2 sentences look like they contradict each other: >It's not progress of culture or language, simply an increase of quantity of slang >, I never argued that the vernacular / slang being generated today wouldn't be used or become accepted by society at large. If those 2 sentences are not contradictions, can you clarify your comment? Isn't "accepted by society at large" part of what culture __is__ ?

justathrow2k 11y ago
Something being accepted by society does not imply progress.
- jasode 11y ago
  You're using "progress" as a judgement of something that's "better" or "improved" ... like "technological progress". A "language progress" is a movement in usage and meaning. We "progressed" from "thy" "thee" to "your" "you" etc. It doesn't mean the words starting with "y" are "better" or "clearer" (in fact, they are the opposite of the previous formal/informal distinctions.) Nevertheless, language/culture has moved on.
  - justathrow2k 11y ago
    I agree with the example of the macro usage of thy->thee->you/your as being an instance of progression, but I don't see the current trends in internet slang as a parallel example of something that will have such a long lasting effect on our language as a whole, but instead, well, just what I said, I see it as a trend that will eventually be a ghost. This is a prediction, of course.
  - musername 11y ago
    it's called pro-gress. the optimistic interpretation is for a move to the better
  - musername 11y ago
    it's called pro-gress. the optimistic interpretation is for a move to the better
- robotresearcher 11y ago
  There is no progress. English is not better than it used to be. It was not wrong in Shakespeare's day and it's not wrong now. We have new words for new things. Adaptation is not progress.