<html><head><title>The 'degredation' of the English language</title></head>
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<CENTER><H3>Language 'degredation'</H3></CENTER>
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  We, as a race, are always changing, so language must change with us. A whole 
raft of technical vocabulary has been introduced in to humanspeak in general, 
words have imperceptably changed their meaning down through the centuries 
(Chaucer wouldn't have understood Jane Austen, and we think Austen, in the 
original spelling, more than a little strange). It would probably be better 
described as evolution than degredation, though some of the pitiful nuances and 
the proliferation of swear words etc. in our language makes it hard to see this as 
change for the better, which evolution generally is.
<P>
  Things change. We know they do, but we don't know why. This gives us a sense 
of insecurity and annoyance. We are convinced, just like the grannies in the park, 
that the old ways were the best ('in my day childeren were seen and not
heard/worked harder/showed more respect to their elders/spoke properely etc.). 
Some people (not, I am afraid, myself) are able to realise that, since there is nothing to be done 
about it, it is better to take the position of an impartial, mildly amused observer, 
and watch the slang words drop out of the language as quickly as they were 
introduced. I see things changing, am sure that they are changing for the worse, and so condemn the change. I often don't realise that I, and all others who act in this way are in fact hypocrites, but, in mitigation, inadvertant ones.
<P>
  Is it worth worrying about? Well....
<P>
  To be honest - <b><i><u>I don't know</u></i></b>
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