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I, for one, am of the opinion that the English language is, and has been for a long time, slowly degrading. There seems to be a large catalogue of articles on this subject and it has been an important topic for linguists, philosophers, writers, literary critics (and the enlightened public at large) for a long (long) time. Probably the most famous vocal commentator on the issue in recent years being George Orwell who constantly bemoaned this state of affairs in many of his critical and literary works- his astute thoughts on the subject are too numerous to quote here suffice to say they have an influence on the path upon which my own argument runs.

Firstly I must start by saying one of the most irritating things about this debate is how those who like to consider themselves of a more forwarding thinking disposition are always reassuring us that it is merely a matter of linguistic evolution. That in fact this debate has been going on since long before Shakespeare. That we should all accept that this is the way of the world and this is all part and parcel of a language's growth cycle as it has been for millenia. But the fact of the matter is that the current state of affairs is anything but natural. The rules, for want of a better word, have changed.

It is very important to take note that we are no longer living in the world from which our language has evolved. This is the world of the Internet, the global media and the quick-fix media hit. Its is not a matter of whether the English language will change, of course it will, but the major is concern is whether we are evolving or devolving. I fear it is the latter.

English is now a language that spreads across national and cultural borders; its influence wide, far-reaching and infectious. But it's integrity as a civilised language is under threat; and unless there is a change so will be the wider civilised world in which its bastardised form should threaten to proliferate along with the simplified and base thinking it will facilitate.

What binds the English speaking world together today is the media. It is, after all, the media and the media elite which dominates our culture and language. The new western culture, which is predominately an American culture, is one that is based upon mimicry and regurgitation. As our culture is increasingly dominated by the mass media industry our culture is replaced by commerce- a system of demand and supply, a downward spiral crafted from facsimiles built upon facsimiles of facsimiles.

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