Some people are quick to point out that language evolves, and I agree that it does. Their point might be that the evolution of language is supposed to be accepted or acceptable merely because it happens, yet I counter that there are certainly some instances that show evolution of some things had negative connotations. When it comes to language, it can be used correctly, neutrally, or incorrectly. Additionally, time, place, context and audience are important considerations for how one speaks or writes.
Even with my person stance on the subject of proper English, I have long acknowledged that I am not perfect. That being said, we as humans are susceptible to our environments, those being of time period, place, surroundings, culture, customs, people, media, etc. The same English I speak in 20th and 21st century North America would be largely unrecognizable in 16th and 17th century Anglo-Saxon Europe, or almost anywhere in 24th or 25th century planet earth.
To babysit, as a verb, should be followed with the preposition “with“. Jeannette babysat with the Randall twins for $10 an hour.
When referring to or pointing out someone, “It was him” is incorrect. It should be, “It was he.”
The word “suffer” was once a synonym of “allow” or ”permit”.
The word “nice” once had the exact opposite meaning than it has today.
Boy and girl were once a single word similar to “child”.
The word “bother” was a euphemism for the word “rape”.
The word “photograph” was considered scandalously misused when abbreviated to “photo”.
Married women were referred to by Mrs. followed by their husbands’ first and last names. For instance, Mr. and Mrs. Randy D, or Mrs. Randy D. The woman’s first name was often omitted entirely.
The contraction of the words “there is” is often misused when the subject is a plural. “There’s six people waiting for you” should read “There’re six people waiting for you” or “There are six people waiting for you”.
Do you know of any other ways the English language has evolved, either positively or negatively?
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Art Lover 