The Dynamics of Written and Spoken Language

As human beings, we are dynamic in that we are subject to adaptation and change contingent upon the world around us. Why wouldn’t a living language adapt and change in kind? Here are a few points from Rosina Lippi Green’s, The Linguistic Facts of Life to support this argument.

• For example, the statement all living languages change is one that no academic linguist would deny.

Just in my lifetime I have seen the language here in the United States change. Many of the cliches that I grew up with have lost their context. To repeat them today to a younger audience may result in blank stares or confusion regarding their meaning and applicability.

• Grammaticality and communicative effectiveness are distinct and independent issues.

It could be argued that grammar is a regional, or even cultural aspect of communications. Some may even consider grammar to be a social construct. The audience and how they receive or perceive the communications determines effectiveness. Some audiences have different grammatical expectations or understandings. That is what needs to be considered.

• Written language and spoken language are historically, structurally and functionally fundamentally different creatures.

Written language lacks the nuances, tone, inflection and body language of spoken language. Much of this is lost when writing. To make up for this and to lessen the potential for misunderstanding, written language makes up for this through quantity. Thoughts, ideas and feelings are afforded much more description in written language.

• All language changes over time, in all linguistic subsystems: sounds (phonetics, phonology); the structure of words (morphology, lexicon), the way sentences are put together (syntax) and meaning (semantics). Only moribund, dead languages (languages that have no native speakers) are static. This is as true in Asia as it is in on the North American continent, as it is for every language in the world.

This is even more factual today than in any other time in history given the ease of migration, technology and the ability to travel. The relative ease in which cultures can intertwine has accelerated language change.

• Language is incredibly flexible and responsive; we make or borrow what we do not have.

Technology and cultural changes worldwide have driven the need for languages to be adaptive to the people that use the language.

• Each language is suited to its community of speakers; each language changes in pace as that community and the demands of the speakers evolve.

The language of the community will adapt at the pace that is necessary for effective communications within a community.

• The fact is, the variety of English a person speaks, highly regarded or stigmatized, standard-like or vernacular, cannot predict the quality and effectiveness of any given utterance or that person’s worth as a communicator.

This is a simple case of, “it’s not how you speak, but rather what you say”.

• Writing systems are a strategy developed in response to demands arising from social, technological and economic change.

Just like spoken language, writing systems will adapt to meet the needs of the community. Think of how many times that we have seen “acceptable” forms of resumes or office memorandums change over the decades. Writing systems are always changing and adapting.