The English language is cracking at the seams....
Can't you hear it everywhere? On the street, in the high school hallways, outside your police precinct, in the catacombs of power....at your sister's wedding party....
It seems half the entire population can't finish a conversation without using the word "like" at least a dozen times. And for the other half, profanity rules the day.
Let me welcome you to the first page of my new blog, in which current language use will get regularly reviewed, commended, lambasted, even praised now and then.
For now, I'll just leave you with this thought. If you are truly afflicted with LIKETALK...there's hope. there is help. But as for society as large?? -....
.....there's no cure!!!
- Martin Blake
2 comments:
Congratulations. You've put together a wonderful blog about an ever-fascinating subject, the English language, its abuses, and its ever-changing character.
As it once was explained to me, Liketalk often characterizes a transition period during adolescenece as a young adult "rewires" his or her brain to adapt to the more formal patterns of adult-talk. Some folks never go through these growing pains of linguistic self-awareness. They rather retain the crude speech patterns of adolescence througout their lives. Some use Liketalk as one might use training wheels or musical keys with letters written on them, as a temporary means to achieve a more refined mode of speech. Others, as you point out, retain or even cultivate a dialect of Liketalk for the purpose of identifying themselves with a certain social group or profession.
For many of us, an occasional indulgence in Liketalk can be useful. Using the adjective 'like' acts like a pause button that gives the brain an extra moment to think of what it's going to say next. It also serves as a mild disclaimer, announcing to the listener that the word or words that follow may not be the best ones to choose, but come close enough to the point for the purpose of communication. It's like, a stop-gap measure, if you know what I mean. Like.
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