The British Library embarked on a mission to map the evolution of language and the results were remarkable.
Language is completely man-made. It's the one thing that separates us from the animals. We can create pictures with words in the shape of poetry, screenplays, novels and articles. And since the printing press was invented and literacy levels rose, it's the most important form of communication.
However, what I find fascinating about language is the sheer volume of them, around 6,500. We're not even getting into slang words and regional dialects. On our tiny island, for example, you can pinpoint exactly where someone is from just from their accent. And each region comes with its own language nuances.
The British Library invited its patrons to record words they use all the time but always need explaining. The standard barrage of "dancer", "mint" and "mardy" made an appearance, but surprisingly there were also slang/regional words for a collection of empty booze bottles and terms of endearment.
I also discovered that the spelling "mom" was far from an American bastardisation of the English language, but in fact, has its origins on the north east of England. Think about it, it's how they say it.
I love the fact that language always evolves. A few years ago, no one knew what humblebrag or peng meant. Words like neckbeard, facepalm and LOL have only just entered our lexicon and the internet means these wonderful word evolutions seep into dialogue all over the world.
For example, I love throwing shade while spilling tea and shipping others. I love that our American cousins write so colloquially and we, in turn, mimic them to give our message extra gusto.
Of course, the downside to this is that we're also homogenising the way we speak. Received Pronunciation (RP) or BBC English, as it's sometimes called, has become the standard southern accent. And people from as far as the Hebrides are ditching that glorious accent in favour of BBC English, as it improves job opportunities.
The dominance of the English language and advent of the internet means we're all connected to it. This is putting other languages at threat. Having travelled far and wide, from Africa and South America to the Middle East and Asia, you hear plenty of English words being dropped into everyday language, like weekend, apps, milkshake and computer - probably because it's easier to say in English or the word simply doesn't exist.
On the flip side, it brings people closer together. A Maori can mediate with a Moroccan and a Colombian can converse with a Chinaman. And this has got to be good for everyone.
