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The importance of the evolution of the English language
The evolution of language
The importance of the evolution of the English language
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A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y. I love the vowels. And the consonants… Europe, Asia, I think Gilligan’s Island was one of them. – Frank Caliendo impersonating George Bush
Language is our gateway to understanding the world around us, but it is always evolving; the words we use everyday are constantly changing. Since the mid 20th century, some terms common to that time have either dropped off or have evolved to mean something different than its original intent. However, language that is used for a different areas evolve in different ways. I will examine, particularly, the area of language involved with humor and jokes. If language shapes the way we perceive the world, is it necessary that the language associated with jokes and humor must always be changing in order to be funny, or has humor had a constant element that will never change regardless of the language use of that era? I will compare the various types language (slang, etc.), both spoken and written, in the most popular forms of comedy found in the 1950’s and 1960’s until now. You do not have to be a professional comedian to tell or understand a joke. Humor today commonly refers to the tendency of provoking amusement or laughter; primarily through language. Over the past 50 years comedy has played an important role in shaping and influencing our culture. But the question remains: How and why is language changing? There are many ways to go about determining the answer to this question, so to narrow it down I am only going to look at areas of humor in magazines (specifically MAD magazine) and censorship. In my research, I will uncover whether or not there has been significant language change, possible causes for the language change, and what we can expect comedy will be lik...
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...ut them. Humor is a large part of the media industry, with TV, radio, magazines, but more importantly culture. It is culture that is constantly demanding change in the language of humor. Nothing can stop the cultural zeitgeist, not even the FCC. As long as we continue to evolve as a species, developing new ideas and ways of living, there will always be a necessity for change.
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Fromkin, V., Rodman, R., & Hyams, N. (2006 or 2010). An introduction to language (8th ed. or 9th ed.) USA: Cengage Learning.
Gaines, William. MAD Magazine 2005: Issue-XL #13. Print.
Price, Roger. "Advice To Young Men ON How To Get Into The Army." MAD Feb. : 45-52Print.
13th Ed. -. Jo Ray McCuen-Metherell and Anthony C. Winkler. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning, 2011. 428.
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Now that this distinction has been made, the issue of humor in modern and post modern l...
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Language or the way in which words are used is one of the most important components of a comedy. Through an intelligent use of word play and the ability to add
...erican Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages. (2012). ACTFL Proficiency Guildelines 2012. Retrieved from http://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/public/ACTFLProficiencyGuidelines2012_FINAL.pdf
When a language is not written phonetically, that means that not all of the letters are pronounced in a word. For example, with most French verbs, whether they are conjugated or not, the ending is almost never pronounced. The same goes for English too such as in the words such as “one” and “knight.” The “w” sound in “one” even though there is not a “w,” and the “k” or “g” not being pronounced even though they are in there. Jennifer Wagner, author of the article History of English, stated, “Vowels can be represented by several different letter combinations and many letters are actually not pronounced [in both the English and French languages]”
... the genre. Only time will tell if the comedy will maintain its television supremacy. Until then, society will just have to stay tuned.
If there is one way to bring a smile to someone’s face, it is laughter. Funny jokes, comical stunts, sarcasm- Every person is different when it comes to what makes them laugh. Some find dry humor comical. Others think sarcasm or joke-filled ranting are the best. ‘Comedy’ is such a broad term, broad enough to allow everyone to find something they find comical. In fact, ‘comedy’ includes a specific type of drama, one where the protagonist is joyful and happy endings are expected. Comedy is like a drug; it allows you to escape reality. When we say the word ‘comedy’ in the present, we are generally referring to a type of performance which provides humor. However, in its broadest sense, comedy has only one purpose: comedy makes people smile and
Humor has been the source of entertainment throughout history. Today humor is practiced in movies, plays, songs, television shows and radio. Humor has brought fame and fortune to those who have mastered its power.