Essay A Web of Concerns Every language has a web, woven together with constantly changing words and expressions. However, as language changes, artificial rules are imposed, creating what is known as a web of concerns. Linguists have found that certain speech styles are appropriate for certain situations. For example, while someone might speak colloquially with friends and acquaintances, they will switch to more formal language when in polite company, such as speaking to a teacher or during a job interview. Essentially, there is no right or wrong way to speak. Until the 1700s, the English language was quite fluid. In the 1700s, linguists such as Jonathan Swift were concerned with "ascertaining" and "fixing" the English language, and the creation of A Dictionary of the English Language by Dr. Samuel Johnson saw the standardization of English. Standard or Received English pronunciation is based on the dialects of the south-eastern Midlands (London, Oxford and Cambridge) where most of the upper class lived. Because the upper class had great influence, most people saw Standard English as the language of educated people. In Victorian etiquette books, not only was correct conduct taught, but also correct language. These rules are artificial, unlike the real rules of the English language. For example, the English language follows the subject-verb-object linguistic pattern, for example I (subject) ate (verb) an apple (object). Descriptivist linguists believe that it is important for real and artificial rules to be separated, as this type of prescriptivism makes people unsure of their own language, as so-called bad English is often linked to crime, poor education and lack of intelligence. Examples of rules that have changed... halfway through the paper... and their language often influences each other. Ts are also eroding in Estuarine English and Glasgow English. An example of a constant breaking in other languages is found in some Chinese dialects. Radio can also influence language, as there are many callers and guests with a variety of different accents and dialects. Radio hosts also argue that variety is the spice of life and that accents are a sign of individuality. As time passes, the sounds of the language transform into different sounds, and these new sounds compete with the old ones, for example "butter" and "bu'er", proving that this view is outdated. Overall, the web of concerns shows inexperience in language and a lack of understanding of how it changes or develops. The descriptivist view emphasizes that we must work towards a better understanding of language rather than trying to control it with artificial rules.
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