Radio Replay: Watch Your Mouth

Language Change

Language constantly evolves, driven by various factors, including societal changes and individual preferences. John McWhorter highlights how language change is unpredictable, with elements like word endings dropping off or new expressions emerging, such as the exclamatory particle "uh" used by young women in the U.S. 1. He compares language evolution to personal growth, emphasizing that changes are natural and inevitable, much like how Latin transformed into French 2. Shankar Vedantam shares his pet peeve about the word "momentarily," illustrating how personal biases can influence perceptions of language change 3.

Language is something that's spoken, and spoken language, especially, always keeps changing. It's inherent.

--- John McWhorter

These shifts, while sometimes resisted, are essential for the development of new languages and expressions.

   

Language & Class

The evolution of language often intersects with social class, influencing perceptions and biases. John McWhorter argues that language correctness is more about societal norms than logic, likening it to fashion trends 4. He suggests that criticisms of language use can reveal underlying prejudices, as people may use language as a way to express class differences 4. Shankar Vedantam notes that words like "literally" have evolved into contronyms, reflecting broader changes in language use and societal attitudes 5.

Those are called contronyms, and literally has become a new contronym. It should be thought of as fun.

--- John McWhorter

These shifts highlight how language can both reflect and reinforce social hierarchies.