Teenagers Are Not Causing Language Change, Linguistics Study Says

Teenagers are not spoiling and changing the English language. According to a linguistics research, language is basically dynamic and its changes transpire all throughout a lifetime and not just during the teenage years.

According to Science Daily, the researchers examined 20 individuals in their fourth grade, eighth grade, 10th grade and at post-high school. Likewise, the team studied on how the respondents pronounced the words.

"Our research has shown teens are being dynamic with language, but not really in a consistent way," Mary Kohn, a linguist and an assistant professor of English. "Very commonly, people think that teenagers are ruining language because they are texting or using shorthand slang," she added.

"But our language is constantly developing and changing and becoming what it needs to be for the generation who is speaking it. As a linguist, I find this really exciting because it shows me that our language is alive," the language specialist continued.

Your Dictionary.com gives the following examples of slang language in which the teenagers are classified to be the experts:

1.       "All Emo" - means being like a drama queen

2.       "My Bad" - refers to committing a mistake

3.       "Busted"- means "broken"

4.       "Supersize" - refers to someone or something that is excessively large

5.       "Frenemy"- is a combination of "friend" and "enemy"

6.       "Doe" - is used for emphasis just like "though"

7.       "Tope" - is something that's beyond cool

8.       "Grind" - expresses state of being in difficulty

9.       "Awesomity" - is the highest state of awesome

Teenagers, when they grow up and have a job would naturally change and improve their language. Their choice of words, pronunciation, diction and accent evolve into a more professional tone -- meeting the demands of their jobs and career.

"All languages, throughout history, change as generation grow up and move through life. As long as there are people who are living and breathing and speaking, we're going to invent new ways of speaking and expressing ourselves," Kohn concluded.