Is the internet influencing the evolution of language, thereby ruining it? It is that time of the year when various dictionaries elect their ‘Word of the year’ and Vape was considered as the word of the year by the Oxford Dictionaries. The final selection should be a word judged “to reflect the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of that particular year and to have lasting potential as a word of cultural significance.” However, looking at the selection of words from various dictionaries, it is evident that most of the words have derived from the internet or have been frequently used on social networking sites.
The focus of this week’s debate is on languages and whether the internet has radically changed global communication?
These are the statements to be debated:
• The internet is helping language evolve by providing a new set of communicative dimensions that did not exist in the past.
• Language is ever changing; adjusting and adopting to the time and place.
• The internet is destroying languages.
Participants will be required to clearly state whether they are ‘for’ or ‘against’ the statement and provide their supporting arguments for the same.
If you would like to participate, send us a request at readers@gulfnews.com
