Do you wish language was as formal or poetic as it was in the 18th century?

[Raia]

For reasons not known to me, language has really degraded in the past century. Do you wish it was back as it was in the 18th century and earlier, with English accents included?

Also, do you try to revive the formality in old English?

[Civis Romanus]

Not all English was elegant and poetic in the 18th century, or at any other time. People have also been crude and vulgar in their choice and use of words.

Formal, poetic language is only one possible register or level of language. It is not suitable in all situations. And an English accent is not necessarily any more well-educated or well-bred than an American or Canadian accent.

I agree that people read less, are less literate, use less sophisticated vocabulary, and make fewer literary references. That is regrettable. So is the modern trend toward text messages and tweets on Twitter.

However, English has also become clearer and more understandable, easier to read and write. The average length of a sentence has steadily decreased over the years. Even then, many adults are still functionally illiterate, unable even to understand simple English at school or in the workplace.

The English of the 18th century is fine in a Regency romance novel, or in the literature of the period. But it does not belong in common, everyday usage in the 21st century.

Civis Romanus

[dart]

No.

You don't understand why language has degraded?

1) language is constantly changing, evolving

2) the world has become REALLY small!

3) Look at what popular art/literature/TELEVISION/MUSIC/MOVIES are...and tell me you don't understand why language has degraded!

Cause EVERYTHING is dumbed down to the lowest common denominator, and the least educated are the most revered in popular culture!

[635]

i know that'd be so cool

[Pepper]

Not all English was elegant and poetic in the 18th Century. While I agree, it was beautiful, the way the common people talked was quite different. And also, that isn't Old English. Old English is from Beowulf. Old English is different enough from modern English that I could show you something in Old English, and you'd only be able to pick out a dozen words at the most, and then I'd show you something in Frisian (an English-like language spoken in the western Netherlands province of Fryslan), and you'd tell me how much better you'd be able to understand that..