so last year as a class we read Beowulf which is the first trace of written
which is the first trace of written
which is the first trace of written English and then after the reading we
English and then after the reading we
English and then after the reading we talked about the evolution of language
talked about the evolution of language
talked about the evolution of language and if that was a good thing or a bad
and if that was a good thing or a bad
and if that was a good thing or a bad thing at the time I thought the
thing at the time I thought the
thing at the time I thought the conversation was kind of stupid and
conversation was kind of stupid and
conversation was kind of stupid and frankly a waste of time because
frankly a waste of time because
frankly a waste of time because obviously language is changing as we
obviously language is changing as we
obviously language is changing as we don’t talk like Henry the eighth anymore
don’t talk like Henry the eighth anymore
don’t talk like Henry the eighth anymore and as we can’t do anything about it
and as we can’t do anything about it
and as we can’t do anything about it there is no point in talking about it so
there is no point in talking about it so
there is no point in talking about it so in the year since as Excel said I’ve
in the year since as Excel said I’ve
in the year since as Excel said I’ve kind of changed my mind because I’ve
kind of changed my mind because I’ve
kind of changed my mind because I’ve taken a class on rhetoric and the
taken a class on rhetoric and the
taken a class on rhetoric and the utility of English and I’ve also
utility of English and I’ve also
utility of English and I’ve also listened to debate about the importance
listened to debate about the importance
listened to debate about the importance of language when it comes to terms like
of language when it comes to terms like
of language when it comes to terms like radical Islamic terrorism and fake news
radical Islamic terrorism and fake news
radical Islamic terrorism and fake news and so now I realize that English is a
and so now I realize that English is a
and so now I realize that English is a really important thing to discuss and to
really important thing to discuss and to
really important thing to discuss and to debate and also that the language sorry
debate and also that the language sorry
debate and also that the language sorry the language is in constant fluctuation
the language is in constant fluctuation
the language is in constant fluctuation so when I take issue with today are
so when I take issue with today are
so when I take issue with today are those who oppose the evolution of
those who oppose the evolution of
those who oppose the evolution of language or who they focus on certain
language or who they focus on certain
language or who they focus on certain parts of the debate so for example my
parts of the debate so for example my
parts of the debate so for example my English teacher of this year she has
English teacher of this year she has
English teacher of this year she has told us several times that she’s against
told us several times that she’s against
told us several times that she’s against using the word impact as a verb and so
using the word impact as a verb and so
using the word impact as a verb and so she she says you can have an impact that
she she says you can have an impact that
she she says you can have an impact that you cannot impact something or something
you cannot impact something or something
you cannot impact something or something can’t really be impacted and so she
can’t really be impacted and so she
can’t really be impacted and so she would always say that’s not correct and
would always say that’s not correct and
would always say that’s not correct and so I kind of looked into it and I found
so I kind of looked into it and I found
so I kind of looked into it and I found out that the origin of the word as a
out that the origin of the word as a
out that the origin of the word as a verb has its has its roots in very
verb has its has its roots in very
verb has its has its roots in very vicious business jargon and has led a
vicious business jargon and has led a
vicious business jargon and has led a vicious campaign to erode the English
vicious campaign to erode the English
vicious campaign to erode the English language or so grammarians will have you
language or so grammarians will have you
language or so grammarians will have you believe because in truth what has
believe because in truth what has
believe because in truth what has happened is very natural and organic a
happened is very natural and organic a
happened is very natural and organic a word has made its way from the fringe to
word has made its way from the fringe to
word has made its way from the fringe to the mainstream and it happens with slang
the mainstream and it happens with slang
the mainstream and it happens with slang all the time most of our words we use
all the time most of our words we use
all the time most of our words we use today were once considered slang and the
today were once considered slang and the
today were once considered slang and the like English language is in constant
like English language is in constant
like English language is in constant fluctuation adding or subtracting words
fluctuation adding or subtracting words
fluctuation adding or subtracting words and changing meanings and I will bet you
and changing meanings and I will bet you
and changing meanings and I will bet you ten dollars that in ten years
ten dollars that in ten years
ten dollars that in ten years on fleek will become totally acceptable
on fleek will become totally acceptable
on fleek will become totally acceptable in everyday language so but historically
in everyday language so but historically
in everyday language so but historically humans have been unable to understand
humans have been unable to understand
humans have been unable to understand the fact that language is an organ
the fact that language is an organ
the fact that language is an organ and is hence always evolving and there’s
and is hence always evolving and there’s
and is hence always evolving and there’s an associate professor of English at
an associate professor of English at
an associate professor of English at Columbia University that wrote a book
Columbia University that wrote a book
Columbia University that wrote a book about this and he says that historically
about this and he says that historically
about this and he says that historically people cannot accept that language is
people cannot accept that language is
people cannot accept that language is something that isn’t something that is
something that isn’t something that is
something that isn’t something that is but rather something always becoming and
but rather something always becoming and
but rather something always becoming and there’s two reasons for this
there’s two reasons for this
there’s two reasons for this so for one the average lifespan of a
so for one the average lifespan of a
so for one the average lifespan of a words meaning is just a little longer
words meaning is just a little longer
words meaning is just a little longer than an average lifespan of a human so
than an average lifespan of a human so
than an average lifespan of a human so something that seems to have always been
something that seems to have always been
something that seems to have always been around has actually only been around for
around has actually only been around for
around has actually only been around for five years before your birth and it’s
five years before your birth and it’s
five years before your birth and it’s probably gonna go and extinct ten years
probably gonna go and extinct ten years
probably gonna go and extinct ten years after your death um additionally we have
after your death um additionally we have
after your death um additionally we have this thing called the dictionary and it
this thing called the dictionary and it
this thing called the dictionary and it looks like a big fat book of
looks like a big fat book of
looks like a big fat book of Commandments on words and that feeds
Commandments on words and that feeds
Commandments on words and that feeds this image that language is immortal and
this image that language is immortal and
this image that language is immortal and will never change when in reality the
will never change when in reality the
will never change when in reality the dictionary itself is also always being
dictionary itself is also always being
dictionary itself is also always being edited and updated anyway people who
edited and updated anyway people who
edited and updated anyway people who focus on this debate of evolution
focus on this debate of evolution
focus on this debate of evolution they’re being pretty nit picky because
they’re being pretty nit picky because
they’re being pretty nit picky because we get upset about words like impact or
we get upset about words like impact or
we get upset about words like impact or the fact that we now say they instead of
the fact that we now say they instead of
the fact that we now say they instead of he or she to avoid gender awkwardness
he or she to avoid gender awkwardness
he or she to avoid gender awkwardness but if we look at the big picture we’re
but if we look at the big picture we’re
but if we look at the big picture we’re actually really okay with what’s
actually really okay with what’s
actually really okay with what’s happening because we’re okay with the
happening because we’re okay with the
happening because we’re okay with the fact that we don’t talk like Shakespeare
fact that we don’t talk like Shakespeare
fact that we don’t talk like Shakespeare anymore so she experienced a great
anymore so she experienced a great
anymore so she experienced a great example in this school we have to read
example in this school we have to read
example in this school we have to read Shakespeare every single year from the
Shakespeare every single year from the
Shakespeare every single year from the 6th to the 12th grade and I absolutely
6th to the 12th grade and I absolutely
6th to the 12th grade and I absolutely hate it and I know I should love it
hate it and I know I should love it
hate it and I know I should love it because Shakespeare has done so much for
because Shakespeare has done so much for
because Shakespeare has done so much for the English language has contributed new
the English language has contributed new
the English language has contributed new words has written beautiful plays but I
words has written beautiful plays but I
words has written beautiful plays but I just can’t help feeling frustrated
just can’t help feeling frustrated
just can’t help feeling frustrated because I don’t understand what’s going
because I don’t understand what’s going
because I don’t understand what’s going on and so on late Tuesday nights as I’m
on and so on late Tuesday nights as I’m
on and so on late Tuesday nights as I’m surfing the internet freaking out about
surfing the internet freaking out about
surfing the internet freaking out about tomorrow’s quiz I end up on no fear
tomorrow’s quiz I end up on no fear
tomorrow’s quiz I end up on no fear Shakespeare Curtis parks notes and this
Shakespeare Curtis parks notes and this
Shakespeare Curtis parks notes and this is a great website because it takes the
is a great website because it takes the
is a great website because it takes the original Shakespearean text and
original Shakespearean text and
original Shakespearean text and translates it into modern understandable
translates it into modern understandable
translates it into modern understandable English and I feel kind of disappointed
English and I feel kind of disappointed
English and I feel kind of disappointed in myself because I had to cheat I guess
in myself because I had to cheat I guess
in myself because I had to cheat I guess and now I understand what’s going on but
and now I understand what’s going on but
and now I understand what’s going on but I don’t really get the language so but
I don’t really get the language so but
I don’t really get the language so but there’s no free lunch you have to pay a
there’s no free lunch you have to pay a
there’s no free lunch you have to pay a price for everything but all I can think
price for everything but all I can think
price for everything but all I can think about is when I shelf that your
about is when I shelf that your
about is when I shelf that your Shakespeare play about how happy I am
Shakespeare play about how happy I am
Shakespeare play about how happy I am that we don’t talk like Shakespeare
that we don’t talk like Shakespeare
that we don’t talk like Shakespeare anymore and I know that my English
anymore and I know that my English
anymore and I know that my English teachers probably feel the same so for
teachers probably feel the same so for
teachers probably feel the same so for example there’s a
example there’s a
example there’s a and Shakespeare in terms to say there’s
and Shakespeare in terms to say there’s
and Shakespeare in terms to say there’s someone at the door you say madam
someone at the door you say madam
someone at the door you say madam there’s alighted at the gate but we’re
there’s alighted at the gate but we’re
there’s alighted at the gate but we’re totally fine was just saying there’s
totally fine was just saying there’s
totally fine was just saying there’s someone at the door
someone at the door
someone at the door other words have been completely cut out
other words have been completely cut out
other words have been completely cut out of the debate so my personal favorite
of the debate so my personal favorite
of the debate so my personal favorite would be decimate this mate
would be decimate this mate
would be decimate this mate so the original meaning for decimate is
so the original meaning for decimate is
so the original meaning for decimate is to take one that means to kill one out
to take one that means to kill one out
to take one that means to kill one out of a group of ten to punish the whole
of a group of ten to punish the whole
of a group of ten to punish the whole group there’s a pretty violent meaning
group there’s a pretty violent meaning
group there’s a pretty violent meaning nowadays we just know it as take a big
nowadays we just know it as take a big
nowadays we just know it as take a big percentage out of so I don’t know if
percentage out of so I don’t know if
percentage out of so I don’t know if this is a peaceful two-hour Testament
this is a peaceful two-hour Testament
this is a peaceful two-hour Testament sorry testament to peaceful society or
sorry testament to peaceful society or
sorry testament to peaceful society or if this is just a random coincidence but
if this is just a random coincidence but
if this is just a random coincidence but we don’t get upset about the fact that
we don’t get upset about the fact that
we don’t get upset about the fact that nobody says decimate as some form of
nobody says decimate as some form of
nobody says decimate as some form of barbaric torture anymore and so my last
barbaric torture anymore and so my last
barbaric torture anymore and so my last argument would be a lot of people think
argument would be a lot of people think
argument would be a lot of people think that people who engage in evolution of
that people who engage in evolution of
that people who engage in evolution of language are just being lazy so they’ll
language are just being lazy so they’ll
language are just being lazy so they’ll say well why can’t they just get up and
say well why can’t they just get up and
say well why can’t they just get up and look the proper meeting up in a
look the proper meeting up in a
look the proper meeting up in a dictionary
dictionary
dictionary instead of hijacking the words for their
instead of hijacking the words for their
instead of hijacking the words for their own nefarious purposes well I would
own nefarious purposes well I would
own nefarious purposes well I would argue actually the contrary the fact
argue actually the contrary the fact
argue actually the contrary the fact that we have been able to adapt our
that we have been able to adapt our
that we have been able to adapt our language and just even our ways of life
language and just even our ways of life
language and just even our ways of life and not fall in a cycle of well we’ve
and not fall in a cycle of well we’ve
and not fall in a cycle of well we’ve been doing it this way forever so why
been doing it this way forever so why
been doing it this way forever so why start now it’s kind of what’s kept us
start now it’s kind of what’s kept us
start now it’s kind of what’s kept us going as we say in French mingle so some
going as we say in French mingle so some
going as we say in French mingle so some people would even argue that the fact
people would even argue that the fact
people would even argue that the fact that people don’t want to adapt their
that people don’t want to adapt their
that people don’t want to adapt their language that’s a sign of laziness and
language that’s a sign of laziness and
language that’s a sign of laziness and that has dangerous consequences and so
that has dangerous consequences and so
that has dangerous consequences and so there’s this really important author
there’s this really important author
there’s this really important author called George Orwell you might have
called George Orwell you might have
called George Orwell you might have heard of him and he wrote an essay
heard of him and he wrote an essay
heard of him and he wrote an essay called politics in the English language
called politics in the English language
called politics in the English language and in it he argues he argues many
and in it he argues he argues many
and in it he argues he argues many things but one of them is that
things but one of them is that
things but one of them is that ready-made phrases which are the type of
ready-made phrases which are the type of
ready-made phrases which are the type of phrases you’re gonna hear over and over
phrases you’re gonna hear over and over
phrases you’re gonna hear over and over and over in the news those are a
and over in the news those are a
and over in the news those are a testament to laziness and those have
testament to laziness and those have
testament to laziness and those have dangerous consequences and so one that
dangerous consequences and so one that
dangerous consequences and so one that comes to mind would be fake news which
comes to mind would be fake news which
comes to mind would be fake news which is something we’ve heard a lot in the
is something we’ve heard a lot in the
is something we’ve heard a lot in the past few months
past few months
past few months so when fake news became a thing it
so when fake news became a thing it
so when fake news became a thing it meant something completely different as
meant something completely different as
meant something completely different as what it means today today we know it as
what it means today today we know it as
what it means today today we know it as what our president will say to credible
what our president will say to credible
what our president will say to credible norts news sources to tell them that he
norts news sources to tell them that he
norts news sources to tell them that he doesn’t believe in what they’re saying
doesn’t believe in what they’re saying
doesn’t believe in what they’re saying and originally that’s fine
and originally that’s fine
and originally that’s fine the president he engaged in the
the president he engaged in the
the president he engaged in the evolution of language he’s taken a term
evolution of language he’s taken a term
evolution of language he’s taken a term changed its meaning and it reintroduce
changed its meaning and it reintroduce
changed its meaning and it reintroduce it to the world so in that sense I would
it to the world so in that sense I would
it to the world so in that sense I would say what he’s done is perfectly okay
say what he’s done is perfectly okay
say what he’s done is perfectly okay however he’s taking it a step too far
however he’s taking it a step too far
however he’s taking it a step too far and that’s our fault because we have
and that’s our fault because we have
and that’s our fault because we have started to absorb the meaning without
started to absorb the meaning without
started to absorb the meaning without thinking about what he’s really saying
thinking about what he’s really saying
thinking about what he’s really saying so now I can go up to my math teacher
so now I can go up to my math teacher
so now I can go up to my math teacher and say when she gives me a zero I can
and say when she gives me a zero I can
and say when she gives me a zero I can say hey this is fake news I’m not gonna
say hey this is fake news I’m not gonna
say hey this is fake news I’m not gonna accept this and so at this point we’ve
accept this and so at this point we’ve
accept this and so at this point we’ve come to a bit of a dangerous stop
come to a bit of a dangerous stop
come to a bit of a dangerous stop because what our president has done is
because what our president has done is
because what our president has done is has he has made us take his vocabulary
has he has made us take his vocabulary
has he has made us take his vocabulary and we don’t even think about it anymore
and we don’t even think about it anymore
and we don’t even think about it anymore so what we need to do is reclaim the
so what we need to do is reclaim the
so what we need to do is reclaim the word reach ange the definition and send
word reach ange the definition and send
word reach ange the definition and send it back to him and back and forth and
it back to him and back and forth and
it back to him and back and forth and that’s what I would call a democratic
that’s what I would call a democratic
that’s what I would call a democratic process so and I think that’s a good
process so and I think that’s a good
process so and I think that’s a good thing so my point is today that language
thing so my point is today that language
thing so my point is today that language is always changing it’s constant
is always changing it’s constant
is always changing it’s constant evolution and that’s a good thing and it
evolution and that’s a good thing and it
evolution and that’s a good thing and it goes from the kind of simple of I don’t
goes from the kind of simple of I don’t
goes from the kind of simple of I don’t want to speak like Shakespeare because
want to speak like Shakespeare because
want to speak like Shakespeare because it’s very complex to also we want to
it’s very complex to also we want to
it’s very complex to also we want to make sure that the people in power are
make sure that the people in power are
make sure that the people in power are kept in check by the people like us and
kept in check by the people like us and
kept in check by the people like us and to all those 10th graders who have to
to all those 10th graders who have to
to all those 10th graders who have to read Beowulf which is I’m gonna admit
read Beowulf which is I’m gonna admit
read Beowulf which is I’m gonna admit not my favorite book out there it does
not my favorite book out there it does
not my favorite book out there it does get better and next year the readings
get better and next year the readings
get better and next year the readings are much more interesting
are much more interesting
are much more interesting [Applause]
”
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