Marius, I would like to inform you that most words do change over time (just look at the word "gay"). Grammar also changes, so do not get too upset when people use adjectives as adverbs.

I do agree with you on the excessive cussing thing, though. I get annoyed when people cuss without really meaning it. Cursing is not supposed to be some fun pastime.

On the subject of using "like" as a verbal pause, I seriously do not mind that much mainly due to the fact that I pause verbally a lot, though I prefer "uh" and "um".

I understand that you want a scapegoat to blame the change in the English language on, but there really is none. While some rappers/poets use adjectives as adverbs, excessive cursing, etc. in their rap songs/poetry, that does not mean that they made it up. These things already existed in real life, and the rappers/poets just reflected on that.

On another note, when people learn a new language, they tend to speak it with better grammar than native speakers mainly due to the fact that very few educators teach any language as it is spoken by natives but by how it is written down formally.

Although this was a nice essay, I didn't like how you streotyped with the rap at the end. Yes, it does effect us, but it doesn't turn us all into illerate little idiots. Friends and parents and internet also has the same kind of effect as rap would.

All in all, this is a very nice essay.

It's true that many people people don't use English as well as it could be used, and it's sad. But at the same time, many kids who talk like that simply do it out of habit and familiarity, only amongst one another and then can sit down and write an eloquent essay. There is a time and place for different kinds of language. For instance, I often say "I need to do good on this test," even thought I am perfectly aware that the correct word is well - it just sounds more natural spoken out loud to friends.

And vernacular is always changing. I find the adjective "mad" kind of annoying actually, but I can understand how it came to be used so much... It's like saying, "This is so good, it's crazy!" which is shortened to "This is crazy good!" which then becomes "This is mad good!" Also, I can't really object to it that much when I am a big fan of the adjective "wicked," living in New England as I do.

I do agree that excessive profanity is really just lazy. Instead of explaining or describing something, you can just say "Fuck," which really doesn't say anything...

For the most part, I agree with you, but would suggest you just try to lighten up because no one is going to change how they speak no matter how good an argument you make. And this was a good, concise argument.

Language changes. If someone spoke to you in 'Old English' you wouldn't have a clue what they were saying, it's almost a different language. The number of words entering the dictionary every year is quite surprising- go back not so many years and some of the words you think are such 'proper English' didn't exist.

no one says 'for real', that's so ghetto

The thing is - language _evolves_. You don't speak like Shakespeare, much less Chaucer. You probably don't even speak much like me, since I speak actual English, rather than that strange regional dialect common in America. It's annoying at times, but whining about it is going to do (if you'll excuse my totally gratuitous profanity) fuck all.
Oh, and of your meanings for 'mad', 2 and 4 use it in the same sense.

You are teh n00b.

Yo dude this shit was mad phat! Lol. I am *just kidding*. I happen to agree with you completely. As a writer, it is almost physically painful to watch the English language crumble away into nothing. I dread to hear what it will sound like in a few decades. Keep up the good work! ~Abigail