Living language means changes
COLIN D Campbell has no chance of keeping the language "unmolested" (Your Views, July 20).
Why does he think dictionaries are constantly updated? In a living language, meanings change.
Dictionaries don't decide the meanings of words – the users do and dictionaries always lag behind. If Colin wants a language unmolested he had better start speaking Latin.
R L COOPER Harlequin Close Radcliffe-on-Trent












3 Comments
by Geoffrey, Chaucer
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 2:54PM
“Aye too have nowted, thart languarge hath chanynged longe since mey yoeth!
Tis a pitey, afore mine anglish was thoughte normale til yonge 'Shakespeare' cayme to desecrate et!”
by onlooker, reading again
Monday, July 26 2010, 7:21PM
“yes technology will have an effect but the biggest affect will come from the immigrants , most of our kids don't speak english but jamaican buzz words at you , that's the change in the language that the guy is talking about . I'm not shocked that you seemed to ignored that fact miltona .”
by Miltona, Paradise Found
Saturday, July 24 2010, 9:53PM
“Mr. Cooper, I agree that language can never be static. As technology and knowledge expand, new words need to be added for objects and concepts that did not previously exist. However, I wonder how you feel about changes that are made due purely to ignorance - are we not allowing the language to be diminished if we accept changes that are based solely on common misuse? As examples, let me mention just a few of the common misuses that make me cringe."You did good", Since 'good' is an adjective, it needs to be used with a noun rather than with a verb. There is a growing tendency both in Britain and North America to make no distinction between the use of adjectives and adverbs. Another exampe is 'lie' and 'lay'. It seems to be acceptable these days on television news and in newspapers, let alone in general conversation, to say "lay' when 'lie' is needed. I'm tired of hearing about injured people who were found 'laying in the street". ( Who had their eggs?) Do you think common usage is justification for changing our language rules?”