Is the English Language Changing?

[first l]

It is a dialectical variance...this is commonplace in all known human languages, and there has been written evidence of this for as long as there have been written languages. It is not until the last 300-400 years (since the introduction of movable type by Gutenberg) that there has been any sort of effort made (at least in the English language) to standardize spelling. This has had the effect, over the centuries, of slowing down significant pronunciation changes, but nothing can stop the process completely. Dialectical differences can be based on geographic regions, ethnic or racial differences, or on socioeconomic status, or often a combination of these influences. In the natural course of history, different regions, different classes, and different ethnicities will rise or fall in their importance, and their speech patterns will similarly become more desirable or less desirable in general society. The more desirable a speech pattern, the more likely it is to be emulated by those for whom it is not a native speech pattern. Just because a particular speech pattern might not be desirable for you, doesn't mean your preferences necessarily reflect those of popular society as a whole.