The development of language can be described as an unholy marriage between the illiterate and the genius. The illiterate defines the words and the genius puts them together.
Every word in Shakespeare's plays was defined by illiterates who didn't know the existing word. That's why the new word was created. Educated people don't need new words; they know the old words.
The exceptions include words for new technologies.
"Language Nazi's" as they are called are usually representing the values of their high school English teachers whose hidden agenda was not protecting the language but maximizing the students' social class, which is highly influenced by correct accent, vocabulary, etc.
Check with the Linguistics faculty at your local university. Far from decrying the alleged decline of language, they almost always consider these processes to be the great engine of linguistic evolution (granted, the English faculty will be more divided on the subject).
Every word in Shakespeare's plays was defined by illiterates who didn't know the existing word. That's why the new word was created. Educated people don't need new words; they know the old words.
The exceptions include words for new technologies.
"Language Nazi's" as they are called are usually representing the values of their high school English teachers whose hidden agenda was not protecting the language but maximizing the students' social class, which is highly influenced by correct accent, vocabulary, etc.
Check with the Linguistics faculty at your local university. Far from decrying the alleged decline of language, they almost always consider these processes to be the great engine of linguistic evolution (granted, the English faculty will be more divided on the subject).