A Level English Language: Summer Work for Incoming Year 13
Studying A Level Language in Year 13 next year? Here’s your summer transition work:
1. Make sure you have a copy of the AQA English Language Student Book and the Revision Workbook.
We will be making regular use of both in class next year.
The texbook is available on Amazon here, and the workbook is here.
2. Watch the debate you’ll find on YouTube below.
When you’ve watched the debate, answer the following question in the comments on this post:
Is the English language ‘going to the dogs’?
You should aim to write between 200 and 300 words, and refer to ideas presented by the speakers in the debate.
________________________________________________________
And that’s that!
If you’ve any questions over the summer, email Mr Parry-Shovlin (s.parry-shovlin@lutterworthcollege.com).
Enjoy the holiday!
English at Lutterworth College 
After watching this debate and weighing up both arguments of the question ‘is the English language going to the dogs?’, I can confidently say that I stand against this prescriptive notion, despite Humphries and Heffer both providing commendable points supporting it. I understand the importance of the use of correct grammar, and that in todays society, the need for efficiency overpowers our language use which leads to clipping and abbreviation. However, I believe that, yes, the English language is changing, but it is not deteriorating; it is just adapting to a modern lifestyle. For example, the dynamic verb ‘text’ would not have been relevant thirty years ago, but nowadays, you would not be able to go through life without ‘sending a text’. On the other hand, the concrete noun ‘cassette’ would not be used today, although, thirty years ago, it would have been a part of peoples everyday vocabulary. In this situation, it was necessary for ‘cassette’ to die out and ‘text’ to take its place, this reflects the inevitability of language change. If society still had the same vocabulary as we did twenty or thirty years ago, we would be seen as outdated compared to the advancement of the rest of the world. There will always be certain rules and conventions in the English language, but in order to keep up with our ever-changing society, we need to adapt our language.
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The argument that the English language is “going to the dogs” is most likely surrounding contemporary abbreviations, slang and dialect phrases that differ from traditional English. But is this change negatively impacting our linguistics, or are people simply conservative with their own lexis? Examples of semantic change, such as the evaluative adjective ‘sick’, seem to intimidate the older generations when its new meanings come into play. There seems to be an issue regarding lexical change, as language is modified to suit the modern day due to things such as technological and social development. Even though both arguments in this video are valid and strong, I do not believe that the English language is “going to the dogs”. Vocabulary and grammar is evolving; every single day alterations are made. Common rules and words are left behind whilst others are being created. Difference is not negative and I do not believe that changes to our everyday language should be viewed as ‘lesser than’ more traditional language used by previous generations. The way in which we communicate does not deserve to be scrutinised, especially by those who see themselves as above due to their “proper” English. Our English language is amazing. The rules can be bent or completely ignored, yet an utterance can still make sense and be understood: “I won’t tell no one”. Perhaps language like this does not fit into how English “should be” spoken according to some, but why should this be seen as linguistic decay? Evolution, in the terms of life, is something that is looked upon as groundbreaking and wonderful. Advantageous, even. The incredible changes made over generations of species have a sole purpose of increasing their survival rates. Maybe change to the English language is our way of surviving in a modern society…
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Before viewing the debate, I was strongly against the motion as I believed that language was not ‘going to the dogs’ in which I still think now. Both sides of the debate included plentiful, valid arguments which were more than plausible and agreeable. However, I stand mainly on the side of descriptivism rather than prescriptivism since we should all know that language is forever changing and developing which I personally do not see as a positive or negative adaptation. I believe language should be able to evolve just as anything else does in the universe. Yes, standard English is important to live a good quality life, to be able to be successful in a job interview senario in which I agree and say it is valuable, especially to communicate with anyone, although I think that we should not be afraid of language change as it is simply just progressing as it has done ever since words had been created. In many ways, reasons to suggest why language is changing so quickly is down to technological advancements such as the many people that social media hits out to. Giants like Twitter and Facebook must be pointed the finger at as they allow any user to right whatever they want whether it is adequate to fit ‘standard english’. In conclusion, language is something that will change no matter how many people stand against it in which I strongly believe we should all just accept.
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My opinion on this statement regardless of the points made from the debate have remained the same as before, personally, I see the descriptivism side of this debate and therefore disagree with the motion as i fail to see the prescriptivism view. This is because we are in an everchanging society with new words being changed daily and loosing their old meanings to create new ones and the importance of some words are evolving constantly, I see it as the english languange is broadening rather than the expression of it ‘going to the dogs’. Although it may be argued that the english language is becoming more complex and difficult to understand due to words taking on new meanings such as the word ‘sick’ now having multiple meanings as it may be used to describe something unpleasant, or it may be used to express something positive and exciting. It could be argued that the english language was already complex and hard to follow due to homophones and the different pronunciations and spellings of these words e.g. there their and they’re or to too and two. Therefore if people can learn these why can’t they learn new up and coming changes to the language.
However the opposing view does express a valid point when Heffer referred to employees and rules for the perfect candidate – explaning that we need standard english and formality to be seen as the ideal candiadate; however, social media can help to contradict this as it’s used mainly for informal purposes. Also, many people speak in a more informal tone nowadays due to it being easier and quicker as people look for effieciency more than accuracy as they want an easier option. Grammar is only one factor of the english language, other factors such as dialect and tone have an impact on how the language is communicated. It could however be argued that the dialect and tone e.g. don’t matter when it comes to the communication of language – as long as it is structured right grammatically it shouldn’t be miscommunicated. In my opinion, I believe that grammar is not ‘going to dogs’ due to the fact that the English language is always broadening and changing constantly to fit in.
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I would vote against the motion.
By imposing standard English as the one correct form of the language, it inherently and systematically disadvantages minority forms of English, which may be used to harm the voices of minorities. African American Vernacular English is a stigmatised form of English and, thus, when an individual speaks in that form of English, they are discredited and assumed to be uneducated, so their point is not listened to which can only damage the voices of minorities. The debate seemed to be more about politics than language, being framed – especially by the outspoken John Humphrey – as a culture war between the left, or ‘politically correct’, and the right, or ‘politically incorrect, irreverent “edge-lords”’.
The changeable morphology and syntax of English is perhaps one of its biggest strengths. It allows us to fully express and capture our emotions and thoughts in ways that may not be possible otherwise. ‘It is the East, and Juliet is the Sun’. This quote summarises Romeo’s love for Juliet, she is the centre of his world, the light of his life – note that all of these are metaphors and not totally, grammatically correct. English, for me, is a poetic language, not a structured machine. Its ability to morph and change to embrace our different and diverse experiences of reality I think is a strength. Oscar Wilde’s breath-takingly beautiful and witty use of English changed literature and the way a society interacted with the world. His witticisms still live on today and still inform our culture – ‘Sarcasm is lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence’. English is not going to the dogs; it is just doing what it is best at: candidly communicating our experience of the world and sharing it with others in such unique and beautiful ways.
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Before viewing the debate I was strongly against the motion and I can say that my opinion has still not changed. Both sides included valid arguments for the side they were arguing but as I am someone that agrees with the view of descriptivism over prescriptivism I would therefore take the side of going against the motion. This is because I believe that language is always changing and developing. Language should be seen as anything else in the world, take humans for example, constantly adapting to survive, so why shouldn’t language be allowed to adapt and do the same. Of course from a prescriptivist point of view standard English is needed in writing a CV and other formal things but this doesn’t mean that language can’t change and adapt. Language change is not something that we can stop from happening, language has developed from the Anglo Saxon era for example and will continue to do so, in 100 years time language will have developed further and this is something that I believe we should embrace.
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Many valid arguments were proposed throughout this debate, however I personally think that descriptivism, as a notion itself, should be highlighted as something everybody shares agreement in. Therefore, this would lead me to disagree with the motion that is discussed in this debate. Language is something that has developed constantly over time, with words being borrowed from other countries, coined by people such as Shakespeare and enhanced through communication between each other. And although we still withhold many terms from hundreds of years ago, language is something that I think should alter and mould to fit the generation that is currently utilising it. In some regards I can understand that language needs to obtain boundaries and rules as how would we all communicate efficiently? if everyone was to start changing grammatical ways, coining their own terms and altering semantics of words, interaction between people would deteriorate and that is when the notion of prescriptivism becomes valid. However, I do not agree with the idea that that English language is ‘going to the dogs’ as the purpose of language (to communicate) is still succeeding. I think that language should continue to grow and adapt to the way in which new generations want to communicate. Otherwise, its significance may deteriorate as people can’t interact how they would choose to- which may then suggest that the English language would be ‘going to the dogs’ with a lack of descriptivism.
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Both sides of this discussion presented valid arguments, however, after listening to the debate, I would vote against the motion. I believe that language should be able to have the chance to evolve throughout time as it has done in previous years and it should not be seen as negative. There is no ‘right’ way to use language, so many different people have contradicting rules as to what is right and wrong. Therefore, no one can be completely sure as to the correct way of using language. I agree with Oliver when he says that people should learn and know when to use the correct dialect in the correct context, as well as in the suitable locality setting. Also that there are many different forms of English. Yes, standard English should be understood and mastered by everyone, though it shouldn’t and won’t be the only form of English to be spoken. A person’s individual dialect does depend on their social class and environment of their upbringing. For example, a student that has grown up attending a private school would utilize a completely different dialect as to a student attending a state-run school. The adaptation of language has been assisted by the invention of technology and websites. Communication has become shortened and therefore more convenient to write down in a text message for example in a short amount of time. Some may call this lazy, but others may think of it as a clever way of communicating more efficiently. Overall, I disagree with the statement that the English language is ‘going to the dogs’ as it is still understood by individuals across the country.
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I do not agree with this motion.
Language is something that we use to express ourselves and changes along with the times and different generations. The language we speak now and how we conduct ourselves is vastly different to how it was 50 years ago, and some may say that we have more of an emphasis on education, therefore it is not about our intelligence levels. Are we focusing more on education then following the rules that are now outdated in comparison to the culture that we are in today?
Humphry’s was going down the lines of that grammar is something that is important to allow us to communicate effectively. Grammar is merely but a tool in our arsenal to allow us to have such freedom of speech. In some cases, younger generations are creating or changing the meaning of words, allowing them to feel as if they are expressing themselves further, despite many of these sounding ridiculous. Standard English is something that is becoming less common, however people are being more susceptible to change with new terms often being added to our everyday vocabulary.
If we were to add more rules and guidelines to our language, this would make it harder for people to follow and understand. Schools may have scrapped teaching grammar, but it is something that is required to a certain extent. Kane was talking about how people use different registers within different situations. Our ability to switch tones like this is a vital part of communication. You would not talk to your boss the way you would talk to your friend, if anything this is making our language more diverse and more suitable to how we need it in the modern day.
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Both sides of the argument provide valid and depth explanations which I can see both points of view clearly. However, the idea of language ‘going to the dogs’, in my opinion, is disagreeable. My reasoning for this stems from the society which myself, and everyone around me are currently in: a very evolving and dynamic one. Yes, without a basic understanding for grammar and the language itself life would be a challenge, but not having the ability to communicate in what is becoming a very diverse and complicated society could be seen as even more challenging, regarding social, formal and practical scenarios. The motion itself, highlights the difference between those who think there is only one applicable English language, such as Shakespeare’s, who’s fluidity and talent created a language for everyone to understand, compared to those who see the positivity in the ability to adapt to the modernisation of our language. Our language is certainly not ‘going to the dogs’ but being saved from deterioration.
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My opinion on this statement regardless of the points made from the debate have not changed, I see the descriptivism side and therefore disagree with the motion as i fail to see the prescriptivism view. We are in an everchanging society with new words evolving daily and words from the past loosing meaning and importance, I see it as the english languange is broadening not ‘going to the dogs’. Over time our lnaguage has majorly improved, we went from not being able to communicate with one another, to being able to communicate using slower and louder pronounciation, to being able to create different languages which could one day communictate with one another. Although it could be argued that the english language is becoming more complex due to words taking on new meanings such as the word ‘sick’ now having multiple meanings (describing something good as well as describing something unpleasant), it could be argued that the english language was already complex and hard to follow due to homophones and the different pronunciations and spellings of these words e.g. two, to and too. Therefore if people can learn these why can’t they learn new up and coming changes to the language. The opposing view does have a point when Heffer referred to employees and rules for the perfect candidate – explaning that we need standard english and formality to be seen as the ideal candiadate; however, social media can help to contradict this as it’s used mainly for informal purposes. Many people also speak in a more informal tone nowadays due to it being more effiecient – people look for effieciency more than accuracy as they want an easier option. Grammar is only one factor of the english language, other factors such as dialect and tone have an impact on how the language is communicated. It could however be argued that the dialect and tone e.g. don’t matter when it comes to the communication of language – as long as it is structured right grammatically it shouldn’t be miscommunicated. I believe that our language is most definetly not ‘going to the dogs’, it’s broadening and changing constantly to fit the world we live in.
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After watching the debate which presented two very strong opposing views, as to whether language is ‘going to the dogs’ my stand point would be that I am not in agreement with this notion, as I believe that the changes to the language are necessary additions, which reflect the current society.
I don’t believe that language changing should be seen as a negative concept, as language has been changing and adapting since the first word was spoken. Language like anything else, including society, animals, people should evolve, with no judgement, as we humans adapt, it is natural that our language too will adapt and change to reflect society and introduction of other elements such as technology. The introduction of technology has seen the advancement of changes in the language, at a pace that some may not feel comfortable with or used to. The introduction of more words and terms illustrates the evolution of language and is a reflection of the norms and trends of the time, making it a true representation of society and culture in a particular time period. The debate discusses how conversations and words, are being shortened, which some believe diminishes and undermines the integrity of the language, I do not agree this is the case, as I believe that these adaptions, demonstrate the evolutionary progression of the language, I do however think that there is a requirement for educational and professional language etiquette to be maintained, in order to ensure that standards are upheld, the difference between every day speech and that of a more formal setting is not to be overlooked as John Humphries acknowledges the colloquialisms of a generation, should be acknowledged and appreciated but there still needs to remain a fundamental understanding and appreciation for the language.
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The debate covers a range of highly contentious arguments. On the one hand, we are presented with a subliminal fear shared by a mass amount of people, particularly, as highlighted by the first speaker, those of the older generation, that a loss of Standard English and traditional values which underpin its use is sweeping generations. Accompanying this fear, perhaps, is a fear of the globalisation of English; traditionalists appear to view multiculturalist influences and new language variants (Chinglish, Singlish and the like) as a threat to traditionally practised Standard English. On the other hand, however, a view of traditional grammar and “correct” English performing as a kind of boundary on the creativity English otherwise affords is presented. This line of argument encourages the view that, by pushing boundaries and subverting tradition, we may employ and develop the English language in new and exciting ways. Such rigid “rules” we associate with the English language – sentences must contain verbs, split infinitives are sinful, punctuation must be perfect etc. – when flouted, can give way to creative explorations, therefore, I cannot agree with the view that “the English language is going to the dogs”, because without experimentation, development, and the pushing of linguistic boundaries, the language is likely to stagnate, both functionally and creatively. Such developments as euphemisms, youth-sociolect neologisms and new syntactic functions have developed alongside socio-cultural changes; without such developments in language to accompany social developments, society itself would be unable to function optimally, therefore the sacrifice of “Standard English” conventions is, I believe, entirely necessary.
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I believe that both sides of the argument have relevant comments however, I believe that language is changing constantly and is being adapted to the people who use it over time. Therefore a descriptivist perspective should be valued in society. The English language has changed dramatically over time from the introduction of everyday language by the Anglo-Saxons in 410 AD to the more adventurous language introduced by Shakespeare between 1564-1616. However, a prescriptivist view of the traditional rules is still important because if there were no rules and everyone created their own then it would be hard for people to communicate with each other. Also, standard English is still used in today’s society for things like personal statements or in a CV which shows that is is still significant. But I still don’t agree with the motion as Language is changing due to the change in time and is being adapted for those using it today.
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After watching this debate, my viewpoint on this matter has not changed, I strongly and whole-heartily vote against this motion. I, myself stand on the side of the descriptivism, rather than the prescriptivism. The world around us is constantly changing, with technology evolving, science expanding; why should the English Language not be capable of these things? We need to allow language to evolve and thus mirror our society; our morals and teachings are undeniably different from the Anglo-saxons, and they most certainly differ from the Shakespearean era; so therefore to make the English language efficient we need to allow English language to broaden to thus fit and mould every individual in each generation. With new words, coinage, being made everyday; how do we expect the English Language not to change? These new words allow the people of that generation to communicate and understand each-other. However saying this, I also see how our language maybe does need certain rules for all of us to communicate efficiently such as grammar. So therefore in conclusion, I firmly have faith in believing that English Language is most certainly not “going to the dogs” and instead is mirroring the world around us, broadening, evolving and adapting to fit the society we live in today.
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Both sides have valid and in-depth arguments of which oppose each other strongly. But while watching this debate, i would vote against the idea of prescriptivism therefore agreeing with the notion of descriptivism. Language is used in order to express ourselves. Humans are adapting constantly to new environments etc therefore, so is our language. Comparing the language we use now to language we used 50 years ago is completely different. Even as close as 20 years ago, will still see changes in the language we use as it is changing constantly. These changes may be down to various reasons including education and the way society has shaped itself over the years. While this is true, a prescriptivist view on the rules of language is still very important in order to use language correctly and accurately. Without this, there would be n o basic guidelines for a standard form of language to be met, and in conclusion, would be difficult to communicate and understand one another. Standard English is still expecting in a variety contexts today such as in CV’s, personal statements, and in job interviews. But new words are continuously being created for new generations communicate with each-other. Therefore, in conclusion, I believe the language that is used today is simply mirroring the world we live in.
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Before watching the debate, I did not think that the English language was ‘going to the dogs’ and even after it I still stand by my decision. The speakers who were in favour of the motion both made fair points but they didn’t have any solid evidence that the world is going to go into some sort of meltdown if a certain set of rules for language are not followed or implemented. However, I agreed with the majority of the things that Oliver Kamm was saying that supported his argument. I agree with Kamm’s point about changes in language creating a freer and more tolerant nation and society. I believe that ambiguity is not a bad thing to have when talking about and discussing the English language and even though the ‘sticklers’ may not tolerate it, communication can still fully function without people having to completely understand the conversations of standard English through and through. New words are continuously being created for new generations to communicate with people. I therefore believe the language that is used today is simply mirroring the world that we live in
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If I were to vote I would vote against the notion that ‘English language is going to the dogs’. This is due to several factors but the key one being as with what Kamm stated, it is not just a factor of the language itself, but in fact the usage of the language and that language change permits freedom when using the english language. An argument against this however would be Heffer’s idea of grammar being a precision tool and while there may be more freedom in change, the language is still deteriorating as we’re less precise in what we say. Additionally to support the against argument Beard says how even in languages such as latin there are rules in which are followed but the language has exceptions as despite how much effort is put into maintaining these rules there will always be parts of the language that do not conform to such rules meaning its not possible for that part of the language to deteriorate as its not fitting a set standard. She also says that the rules which “are the things causing the language to do to the dogs” are not even completely decided and are argued about between linguists and therefore how can you compare a language deteriorating when we don’t fully know the rules is ‘supposed’ to follow. While huffer argues we should take aesthetic pride in our language and not let it deteriorate, I believe the way in which to execute this is to embrace such language change and the more modern English language allows people to keep up to date with both political and societies changes in views over time.
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After watching the debate, I do understand both sides of the argument, but I would vote against this motion. Our English language has changed drastically throughout the eras and generations to create our modern language. I believe that creativity should be paramount in communication and writing as it is only that which makes language such a powerful tool. The ability for a writer to be able to paint an image for the reader, simply using language, is a skill that should not be lost by a materialistic regime such as the teaching of language in France.Kane made a point about different registers for different situations and i feel that is a key part of the argument. The language is still alive and growing, evolving and changing, much like society. We couldn’t attempt to enforce order on the diversity of a country, so why should we treat the diverse nature of language with hostility?
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I would vote against the motion, both arguments for and against make clear and valid points but i believe that the language of today is constantly evolving and changing along with society. people who are in favour of the motion make some good points but these are outdone by arguments that language and can now be expressed in more ways then ever. i think we are in a new modern era of language vastly different from previous anglo-saxon or Shakespearean eras and it is the older generations which need to catch up and adapt to this new era. However it is true that standard English allows clearer understanding between peoples individual idiolects but i think that the wider and more diverse people language becomes can only be a good thing therefore i am against the motion that English language is going to the dogs.
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Language is something that is constantly changing and being used to fit an individual purpose. After watching the debate, I have taken the side of being against the motion. As language was being introduced into societies and more people were starting to acquire it, individual choices weren’t yet able to be made and creativity lacked. this would have been due to the lack of experience with language rather than people not wanting to make their own language choices. Now language has developed and there are different types being used all over the world, people now have the ability to use language in a way that they see suitable and use it to their advantages in life. Having a prescriptivist view is still as important in today’s society as it was when the Anglo-Saxons introduced language in 600AD because there do need to be rules that are followed for people to understand what others are trying to communicate. Language etiquette needs to be taught through educational settings so that messages can be portrayed and in the correct way. John Humphries explores how formal and colloquial language cannot be changed as it is an essential part to providing differentiation across settings. Societies in 2019 encourage individuality and avoid typical followings or groups, meaning language is reflected in this way and idiolects should be encouraged, rather than being keeping to a strict, traditional outlook.
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Personally I think that the English Language is not “going to to the dogs”, however, I do think that is is not as sophisticated or as productive as it used to be. Both sides of the argument gives completely valid and acceptable points, which make either side reliable to agree with. Neutrally, the English Language is always changing. Even though certain words’ connotations should change, this statement is neither positive, nor negative, and instead absolutely natural, of humans. The language as an instrument, evolves as time goes on, as does everything natural in the world. Language change has existed since we first learned how to speak and today is just another example of such.
Regardless of both sides’ points, standard English is important (for situations such as interviews, important meetings, family get togethers etc), and I believe we should embrace such. Social media and modern day conventions just boost how quickly out language changes. Extremely popular platforms, such as Instagram for 13-35 year olds, and Facebook, for older generations that used it when MySpace closed down, are examples of how people are able to escape with not using standard English in everyday conversations, whether it be face to face or not.
To cut it short, language will always. Because of this, I am lead to believe we should not stop it, since it is something we have been bounded to do since we started to develop language, regardless of how much slang we use in modern day dialects.
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Before watching the debate I was against the motion, and after watching it I still stand by this viewpoint. Although both arguments for and against make strong and valid points, it is clearly showed that language is now more diverse and expressed in many more ways than ever. I definitely do not agree that the english language is ‘going to the dogs’, and that it is actually improving and is becoming more diverse and friendly to many cultures. I believe that creativity should be much more important when it comes to language as it is what makes communication so powerful.
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Before to watching this debate I had never really thought whether Grammar in language is important and didn’t have a clear judgement on the argument. After watching the conflicting arguments it is clear to say I would stand against the motion that the english language’ is going to the dogs’ as grammar holds a vital importance in language.
John Humphries statement of “you can’t communicate without a basic understanding of rules” is true grammar is a learning point for the development of language. To further this idea has a prescriptivist , Matt Cobbett argues a prescriptivist view that grammar is a necessity arguing that ‘without grammar, it is impossible for you to write correctly, and it is a mere accident that you speak correctly.
Equally does Mary Beard argues that’s “no body here is saying that there are no rules to language”, however I would say that these “rules” provide only the very basis of the English language the influence of social change develops and changes language. In addition to this Oliver Kamm’s point about the “English language is shot through with ambiguity”. Ambiguity in language allows us develop language through social change, without this I believe that without the influence of social change in language, language is stuck and it should develop around us and be influenced through time and the societies, social problems and lifestyles of the time. Change in the form of loss and gain of new words is essential in order to ensure that we continue to keep up with ever changing societies and lifestyles, it is also inevitable that this change is going to happen in society and language should reflect this. In conclusion, I do not believe that the English Language is going to the dogs, it is important for language to be influenced by its surroundings as it makes it more representative throughout its history, so I therefore stand against this argument.
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I disagree with the idea that language is ‘going to the dogs’. By suggesting that standard language is the only correct form that everyone should base their speech upon is discriminating of minority groups. I agree more with the ideas of descriptivism rather than prescriptivism therefore disagree with the motion. Language is constantly changing therefore it is obstinate to suggest that one form is better than others. Although Standard English may be needed when writing a CV this doesn’t mean that language can’t change and adapt. Language change isn’t something we can put a stop to therefore we should embrace the changes being made as it mirrors changes in society. Language has developed from the Anglo-saxin era and will continue to change and be completely different in 100 years. This evolution of language shouldn’t be stopped and a prescriptivist attitude will halt progress and lead society to become stuck. As David Crystal said, we should be ‘swimming with the tide’ when it comes to language change as it is unpredictable and constantly reinvents itself.
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Before I watched this debate, I was very open minded about whether I would be for or against the motion. I understand that our English language has changed dramatically over the last 20 years or so and therefore I assumed these people of high authority would be very aggressive towards our generation. To my surprise, they were not. Instead they highlighted the ‘issues’ within the education system, which of cause has overall control from the people they were most fond of offending… the politicians. I agreed at first with what John Humphrys said about the way politicians are ambiguous with their language, because in all truth – they are. I feel like they feel they have the power to baffle us and most of the time, we luckily recognise it. It was the behavior they had towards the rules in grammar I not disagreed with, but felt patronised by. These type of people make me feel uncomfortable. Personally I do not feel like I could say one sentence to them without getting ‘shut down’. Just like the opposing side of the panel, I believe that we shouldn’t always worry too much about getting grammar correct. Yes, it is important to respect the tradition of the English language, but the changes within society also need to be respected. Both sides of the panel brought up a range of issues with the way some people choose to speak and this was something that I also agreed with. Changing the BBC back to ‘RP’ is far too over the top, but teaching students from a young age the different dialects and registers is a skill they can take through life. English language isn’t in danger of ‘going to the dogs’, but it is in danger of becoming less formative. The amount of people in the end who voted ‘for’, surprised me. I would like to think that the audience weren’t as discriminating as that, but it seems our society isn’t as left wing as I had hoped. This was proven from the EU referendum not too long ago anyway. There is a lot of things that can be discussed from the debate, as it is so long and so many things were spoken about, however I only have 200-300 words to express my own opinion. So here it is; the decision for the motion or against the motion, if it were left to me would be against. It is complicated though. I believe that everyone living in England or anyone living in an English speaking country should have the ability to change and adapt their language to fit into other environments. Understanding linguistic conventions is extremely important and is becoming more and more important everyday as new communities and new bulks of vocabulary are being formed. We are becoming more diverse and multicultural as a society. We promote the anti discrimination laws and equality and with the rise of a new generation forming it is important know exactly how to work with the beautiful and dynamic structures of our very own English language.
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Previous to watching this debate, I held the belief that the language used today and further into the future will not be ‘going to the dogs.’ Humans adapt constantly and will continue to do so in order to suit their environment and their viewpoints; therefore i hold a descriptivist view. There should not be specified rules to follow as language can and will vary in its use and continue to change, so rules will not always apply to the advancement in languages. Oliver Kamm expresses in the video how age is “Fundamental to this debate,” implying how society has “complex, grammatical instructions” which are followed in differentiating ways strongly dependent on age. The fundamental subconscious rules of language followed by a society can be seen as being intolerant towards slang and language used by a younger society today. The language used by teenagers is not necessarily incorrect as it is easily understood by those of the same age group. Previous generations struggle to understand the complexity of the advancement of language used as a result of the language they were taught when they were young so therefore, the way we communicate is not in accordance to the standards and rules they have grown up with and absorbed as factual in terms of communication so the “waves of change” in the language used today are somewhat incorrect. This is why I believe that prescriptivism is impacted by age and the change in society, therefore the rules that are meant to be followed cannot be implied to the current change in how language is used. The english language is not ‘going to the dogs’ as it is simply changing in order to fit the change in the world and different generations will always view this debate differently based on pre-determined factors of how language should have been used during these different times in the evolution of humanity and human life.
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Prior to watching this debate I strongly believed that language was continuously evolving and adapting, for the better, to fit the environment we live in today. I did however have a view that people of higher authority would hold a prescriptive view on language and argue that it was ‘going to the dogs’. During the debate, both speakers made fair point with reasoning as to why they believed language was or wasn’t going to the dogs. Oliver Kamm’s speech did make a very convincing argument especially when he stated that if there was an obvious right body of language, we’d all be taught from the same style manual. This made me confident that the English language has not gone to the dogs and that there isn’t one right answer to language. Having watched the debate, Mary Beard’s argument stood out to me as her view was that the rules we have in language enable us to break them therefore language is still evolving and changing often.
The idea that Twitter is another reason language is considered as ‘going to the dogs’ seems absurd to me. Social media such as Twitter is a creative platform which allows people to communicate in a ‘new’ and ‘fresh’ manner.
Overall, I believe language is not going to the dogs and I support the descriptivist view that it is forever evolving and adapting.
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Prior to the debate, I did not have an opinion on whether the English language is ‘going to the dogs’. Now, I would confidently agree with the descriptivist viewpoint in that the English language is not ‘going to the dogs’, despite the convincing points made by Humphrys and Heffer.
Although I agree that language must have some set rules in order to be universally understood, I agree with Mary Beard in that ‘rules enable us to break them and debate them’, and that ‘language should be kept on its toes’. The English language will be forever evolving within society and I believe that this is more representative and inclusive towards the current generation in comparison to previous – by which they are confined by sets of rules to reflect standard English.
I disagree with Humphrys’ point in which he states ‘The more words we lose, the poorer our language becomes’. I believe the words we lose (and gain), are crucial in reflecting the modern day. After all, why should we keep vocabulary that is no longer used? We should celebrate the coinage of new words or abbreviations such as ‘TBH’ (meaning ‘To Be Honest’), or ‘IDK’ (meaning ‘I Don’t Know’), as these show the development of social media. Previously, having a conversation with someone halfway across the world was unfeasible, now social media allows us to connect with friends, family and various communities in an instant. Therefore I believe that English language is evolving for the better and most certainly not ‘going to the dogs’.
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After watching the debate, I have come the conclusion that I disagree with the statement and believe that the English Language is not ‘going to the dogs’. Language is always evolving to fit the desires of society, whether it is for an invention, or a new meaning of a word constructed by a new generation. Both arguments have validity, however, speakers for the motion believe that language shouldn’t change or evolve. This is shown by journalist of the Daily Mail Simon Heffer, he believes other countries have more passion for their language and therefore are stricter when people try to learn their language and try to change how a sentence is structured and that we as an English-speaking country should therefore be as strict as other countries with our language. He believes that as we romanticise other countries for example how “France have better looking women”. But with this point of view, we therefore wouldn’t have the language we need to function in society to the ability we need to. I agree with Oliver Kamm’s statement that the English-speaking work has “hugely expanded” over the last century and there is more non-native speaker than native speakers of the English language. With this being said, there is going to be development of the English language from non-native speakers to make it easier for them to learn, however, people like Heffer want a golden society that never existed meaning that they don’t want any adaptations happening to the language and that they want the rules of the language to stay the same. I believe that the adaptations in the language made from non-native speakers are important in developing a language that is assessable to everyone and therefore that the english language isn’t going ‘to the dogs’.
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Before I watched this debate, I thought that Language was always evolving due to everything around us changing. So this would lead to new words being used and older words not being used as commonly. However I did believe that older people in the Generation wouldn’t like change in the Language and would hold their prescriptivist view on language changing. In this debate I saw several different reasons given by the different people who’s views were different as with Simon Heffer, who was for language going to the dogs, believed that language should be able to change however we should use the English language tool properly. Simon gave examples from other European countries such as France when he stated that “Other countries have rules in their language e.g. the French are Very peculiar about it.” and that’s why should English Language not be the same as other European Countries. Compare to Oliver Kamm’s speech ,who is against that Language is going to the dogs, and believes that Language is the ability to discuss ideas and that everyone has a language instinct and that if you are a native Language speaker you don’t need to learn grammar as they have a language instinct. Also Oliver states that “if there was an obvious body of rules, then their would be one style everyone would be taught but there is not”. This is why I believe that English is not going to the dogs and that language will always keep evolving around what is happening in the world today as I agree with what Oliver stated that “English Language is a river”.
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Both prior to and after watching this debate I disagreed with the notion that the English language is ‘going to the dogs’ and instead believe that English is a constantly evolving language that changes to best suit the needs and convenience of the population that speak it, allowing them to communicate more effectively rather than less. I think the panellists who agreed with the notion were rather hypocritical in their arguments, often agreeing along the lines that ‘of course language changes’ before arguing that it never should. They also neglect the fact that English has always changed and evolved in a similar manner, only perhaps slower and less noticeably before methods of instant global communication became widespread. Hence, it could be argued that to prevent the continued evolution of the language would be to change the nature of it as a living language, rather than to preserve it which is done through continuing to adapt it.
I also think that Oliver makes a very important distinction that the so-called ‘rules’ of the English language are actually just conventions that are generally agreed upon, and can therefore be changed when the population changes what they generally agree on. This is particularly important considering the globalisation of English since it now spoken by more people as a second language than as a native language, alongside increasingly diverse groups of native English speakers. This means that different groups of English speakers follow different conventions including varied vocabulary and grammar. Hence, labelling one variety of English as ‘proper’ or ‘correct’ implies that the group of speakers who use that variety are inherently superior, morally or intellectually, to other speakers. This mindset and teaching leads inevitably to rigidity and prejudice regarding the groups who use other varieties of English, although it can be argued this is a cycle which began with prejudice.
Such varied use also means that the rigidity of English can not be compared to that of other languages, like French, as Simon attempts to. Nor should this rigidity be aspired to, as he suggests, simply because it exists in other languages, let alone the reality that these other languages are not as rigid as they appear through anecdotal interactions like the one Simon describes (which may be had with reversed roles in a different situation) and experience change and variety themselves – such as the differences between European French and Canadian French.
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Previous to watching this debate, I was strongly against the motion and believed language was not “going to the dogs”. I still withstand my view and the debate did not cease to change my mind however the arguments put up were interesting to me in the sense and proved to me that the older generation lack so much imagination when it come to language conventions.
I strongly believe to get somewhere in life and to withhold a job or stay in education in any day and age, you should at least know the convention of standard language In order for you to write it and speak it where necessary. This was also an argument made by kamm where he stated its “important that children are taught conventions of English language”.
I hold a descriptivist view in this debate which in sense means that I accept that language is constantly changing and adapting and I believe that is magnificent as the younger generation of society can invent “slang” though it can become part of our English language. Kamm states “English language is like a river” which is a quote worth remembering, the fact a language can be thought of as consistently flowing and the only thing to stop a river is a man-made object such as a dam is representative to me as the older generation attempting to stop the change.
Although I am against the motion humphreys made a point on “verbs cement meaning”, he spoke about an old speech made on the BBC where the majority of the sentences included verbs which meant to the population watching the media they didn’t see past that and just automatically believed what was happening without a second thought.
In my opinion, age and society are the biggest impact in this debate. Teenagers of this age could have a conversation with no ends of slang and new terms which may be “trending” at the time however what is so brilliant is that these teenagers know exactly what they are talking about whereas the older generation such as Heffer and Humphreys would not understand the language and immediately assume that language is “going to the dogs” due my previous statement of this older generation lacking imagination. They are so stuck in their old ways yet can’t stop the inevitable, ironic really.
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There are two lenses through which you can evaluate this question- first, the arguments posed by prescriptivist broadcaster John Humphrys. He claims that the perception of prescriptivists as being sticklers and pedants is not an accurate assessment. In actuality, prescriptivists seek to enforce grammatical rules and conventions that are essential for communication. He argues that without these, language breaks down and and effective communication becomes impossible. He believes that grammar should form an integral part of the education system, or else language becomes ‘debased’. He illustrated this with the example of ‘disinterested’ and ‘uninterested’, where previously the distinction had been made quite clear (‘disinterested’ means neural whereas ‘uninterested’ means possessing a lack of interest), in modern times these terms are used interchangeably. He suggests that not only does this create confusion, it also demonstrates that some words in the English language are losing their value. Therefore, according to Humphrys, language is ‘going to the dogs’ since it is actively preventing effective communication.
In stark contrast, Oliver Kamm represents the descriptivist point of view, in which he argues strongly against the motion. He claims that ‘English is like a river, it flows through many tributaries’. In this sense, the English language is constantly evolving and changing in ways that are impossible to prevent. These changes are shaped by external factors, such as politics, social change, technology and pop culture. Language is not a concrete set of rules, as implied by Humphrys, but rather the result of stylistic preference, which we all have. ‘No English speakers adopts a purely consistent approach that the origins of a word determine the meaning. Language doesn’t work like that’. Further, the prescriptivist approach suggests that, since language is on the decline, there was a time in which language was applied ‘perfectly’ and invariably accurately according to a formal set of rules. Kamm points out that this ‘golden society’ never existed. Perhaps it could be said that prescriptivists cling on to their rose-tinted view of the past, and view all language change as bad since it represents how drastically British society has changed- which Kamm claims is ‘almost entirely for the good’.
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My personal opinion on the topic of this debate has not changed, and it it that the English language is not “going to the dogs”, but rather it is changing.
This change aligns with the changes present in society, such as striving for political correctness, technological advancements, or globalisation. It only seems natural that the smaller the world gets, the more language gets mixed together, adapting and flowing like the tide. The language is broadening, and as some would argue, becoming more complex and harder to understand, which is where I believe most prescriptivists would find their problem.
I mostly agreed with the points made by Oliver Kamm; these changes in language create a freer and more tolerant society. He said that “English is like a river, it flows through many tributaries,” which is evidenced by the fact that the language we speak is pieced together from other languages such as Latin and French.
On the other hand, John Humphreys believed that “correct” grammar needs to be taught in schools because otherwise, young people would be unable to be understood by others. I would argue that people have different registers for different scenarios, for example, most people would not write an essay using the same language they might while talking.
In conclusion, the English language is and always has been changing. Not for better or worse, but simply changing.
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Prior to listening to this debate, I was of the impression that the English Language was not going to the dogs and this is something I continue to believe now. Although I fall towards the descriptivism argument, I believe both sides produces valid and agreeable points.
The notion of being grammatically correct presented by both John Humphry and Simon Heffer is something I stand by but only in order to achieve a level of basic communication and understanding between people. The idea of people who use grammatical structures that aren’t standard being viewed as illiterate is something I disagree with as I believe the use of non-standard English reflects our modern, ever-changing society. Something that particularly stood out to me was Oliver Kamm when he said, “if one rule is taught, everyone would speak the same,’ and I think it’s the fluency of English that makes it interesting and adaptable. However, it is undeniable that what Simon Heffer says about people who use non-standard or grammatically incorrect English will find it much harder to get into high level jobs and schools due to the idea of people being illiterate if they do.
Oliver Kamm also made a good point in that it’s not that people must use standard English all the time, but they must be able to change their register depending on the context of the situation-something I agree with. For example, the context in which I speak with my friends would be entirely different compared to a job interview, but that’s not to say I’m illiterate with my friends due to the change in register. With this idea, I believe the society we live in must keep a level of basic understanding with how to use English to communicate without changing the basic structures of language altogether. However, I also believe the middle aged people who are often against this fluid use language should attempt to accept that language change doesn’t equal illiteracy.
To sum up my stance of the argument, I stand strongly with a comment that one of the audience members proclaimed: “language must be mastered correctly before we use it however we want”.
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Both before and after watching this debate, my view on English Language has remained the same – it is not ‘going to the dogs’. Leaning towards the sign of descriptivism, to believe that English Language is going to the dogs, means that it has once peaked. However, we can never discover a point of peak in the English Language. As well, the language is forever changing and evolving, an endless cycle where the older generations believe the younger generations are destroying the language.
Although the ‘for’ party has many excellent points, and Standard English is perhaps a necessary need. We can never truly have a ‘Standard’. Our language grows more complex with each generation, words taking on new meanings, thus disrupting older generations understanding of even a simple sentence. As well, we can never control the evolution of language, and as such, we should learn to accept it.
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Both sides of this debate raised persuasive points, but after listening carefully I would vote against the motion that the English language is “going to the dogs.” The idea that English is in decline doesn’t stand up when you consider how language naturally changes over time. Just as it has adapted for centuries, from Shakespeare’s era to today, it continues to shift with society and culture. Change should not automatically be seen as corruption. Instead, it can often enrich the way people communicate.
The prescriptivist side made strong arguments about the importance of maintaining rules and clarity, but as Oliver Kamm argued, rules themselves are not fixed truths but conventions. What some see as “bad English” is often just another form of expression that fits a different context. Standard English is important, particularly in education and professional life, but it shouldn’t erase the value of other dialects or forms of English that represent identity, background and community.
The impact of digital communication also shows how flexible and creative English can be. Abbreviations, slang, and even memes are not destroying the language, instead, they are demonstrating its ability to adapt to new platforms and audiences. Mary Beard’s point that young people who text a lot are often better at writing supports the idea that online communication can complement literacy, not damage it.
Overall, while I respect the prescriptivist concern for standards, I believe the English language is not in decline but thriving. It is understood across the world, constantly reshaping itself, and far from “going to the dogs.”
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My opinion on the topic, both before and after watching the video, has remained the same. The idea that English Language is going to the ‘dogs’ would therefore mean at one point it was at its peak. However, we are unable to pinpoint such peak, thus, English Language cannot be going to the dogs. Moreover, the English Language is forever changing and evolving, thus to say it is going to the dogs is merely disliking the fact that is it changing from what we once knew. This video further proved my view that older generations dislike the younger generations use of English Language, thus deeming it to be going to the dogs. This is an endless cycle, with words such as ‘sick’ being now used for ‘cool’ to almost hide and disguise what they are discussing. Overall, English Language is a forever evolving thing that we cannot control and bend to our own needs.
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