Folium: The Evolution of English Language Over the Last 500 Years via Gizmodo
Folium: The Evolution of English Language Over the Last 500 Years via Gizmodo
Creative Commons Image via Flickr user crdotx
Folium: The Evolution of English Language Over the Last 500 Years via Gizmodo
The English language is truly a remarkable thing, and as a Modern Language professor most people think that I don’t give English enough credit. Well, this one’s for you Anglophiles!
Just like every other language in the world, English evolves at a relatively fast pace. And when you compare English to romance languages like Spanish or French, English reconfigures itself at breakneck speeds. The adaptability of English is a strong point that grants the language the ability to grow and evolve to any need.
“Unsurprisingly, a lot’s changed since the 1500s, not least of all language. But now a physicist has crunched through 5.2 million books published over five centuries in order to analyze the way the English language has changed over time.” – Gizmodo
This article is a great opportunity to take a moment and reflect on just how dramatically our modes of expression have changed over 500 years. And on top of all that, this research in language evolution was done by a physicist!
“Extend the length of phrase to five letters, and a similar pattern emerges. Favorites from the 1520s remain heavily religious, including “the Pope and his followers”, “the laws of the Church” and “the body and blood of Christ”, while modern-day diction remains dull, offering up the likes of “at the end of the”, “in the middle of the” and “on the other side of”.” – Gizmodo
We’ve mentioned in previous Folium articles on languages and their ability to shape perceptions. How we comprehend, analyze, and synthesize information depends greatly on our system of communication! This is monumental evidence that can support the evolution of viewpoints and perspectives of the English-speaking cultures over time. Imagine what our grandchildren will be thinking in 100-years time!
What are some of the phrases that you use most often in English? And do you think they’ll still be around in 100 years? Let us know in the comments below!
