Today's Kids Are Like Killing The English Language Summary

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Meaning
1. The main point Kirk Johnson, writer of “Today’s Kids Are, Like, Killing the English Language” published by the New York Times, illustrates is a shift in the way society nowadays communicates and expresses themselves with the emergence of technology and other forms of media in this new era compared to the precedent and placid century.
2. The terms that Johnson singles out are “like,” “duh,” and “yeah, right”. These words are constructed and scattered all throughout Kirk’s argument. This supports the main thesis of Johnson’s entry is that these slang terms are utilized to project the significance of the time we live in. He also marvels at the way one might unconsciously need those words to buffer and fill statements.
3. A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself, but has veracity to it. Johnson demonstrates that there’s a paradox in this new age in that He provides a technical and ornate response by saying that computers of today, used by this new society dependant on “duh” and/or “like” and “yeah, …show more content…

Caustic is defined as being too abrasive and/or too critical: “Shannon’s caustic commentaries slightly shifted the employee’s smirk into a frown.” Incisive is defined as being clear and direct, referred as an action: “While writing a research paper on Napoleon and his influence, Sarah traveled to the library for a novel on the subject and formed an incisive and thought-provoking argument.” Semiotics is defined as being the study of signs and symbols and how they are applied: “As a young boy, Elias was intrigued in semiotics and how the pi symbol came to be.” Unpalatable is defined as distasteful and unpleasant, usually regarding forms of food: “Marge’s mother had always an unpalatable and unappealing dish every Thanksgiving dinner.” Self-deprecation is an action of not giving value to and belittling oneself: “Once Alice had taken the will of replacing her rimmed eyeglasses for contacts, her self-deprecation only diminished and confidence

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