Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Are changes in language directly related to the power of a group of language users?
I read a status on Facebook during break about Harry Potter that used the word muggle. It reminded me that muggle is now an official word in the Engligh language. This word was used by many after the books were published. It makes me believe that changes in language are directly related to the usage by the majority. Words will not be added or removed from the dictionary unless the majority of the speakers agree with the changes. That's why muggle was added to the dictionary. Harry Potter was and remains very popular The majority of speakers knew what the word meant and would use it. If anyone in the future ever wants to make a major change to a language, they must get the support of the majority of speakers.
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I agree that changes in language mostly occur because of what the majority thinks. This is comforting to me because it make me believe that no one person or group of people can control language. Every person has the ability to start a trend that may be successful enough to change something as official as a dictionary.
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