Dear Isabelle Kerr
I am writing to you today to inform you that I agree with the points you have written in your article ‘Bare Vexed’. I too believe ‘something appalling has happened’ to the English language. These new additions, such as ‘twerking’ and ‘selfie’, to the English Dictionary are an embarrassment to say the least. Just like you, I feel this puts a bad name on our generation.
We are both a part of this generation; a generation which has contributed these vulgar words to our once beautiful language. Our generation will now just be seen as a vain and uneducated generation compared to the ones before us. This is because of these words being put into the dictionary. I do not believe slang words such as ‘twerking’ should be seen as legitimate additions to the English language. Why should our generation’s slang be added to the dictionary when many other generation’s slang has not been added? Although many people may argue that Shakespeare (a major contributor to modern English language) made up his own words, he is considered to be a genius and his words have stood the test of time. Shakespeare’s language has beautiful meanings. In all of his work he made up about 1,700 words such as ‘sanctimonious’, and ‘monumental’. Words such as these are a lot more ‘auspicious’ than ‘twerking’.
Being someone like you, Isabelle, I love the English language, and I want more from my generation. I am not happy with the contributions that my generation has made to this language. The one thing that people in our generation complain about is being judged negatively by the older generations. But how can we complain if the only words we contribute to the English language promote sex, violence and social networks – it is not a good look.
That is why i am very angry about these new additions. I do not want to be associated with a generation which, in my opinion and i believe yours, is destroying something I love dearly. I think the words which have been added should be removed. It is not only embarrassing for our generation but the English language as well.
Another reason why I am writing this letter to you is not only to complain about these disgraces of words, but also to thank you. I want to thank you because by writing your article you have shown older generations that not all of us are utter imbeciles. You have shown that not all of our generation are illiterate, that we to love this language and hate what is happening to it. I hope that by reading your article, the older generations and even our generation can be enlightened in the fact that it is not right. ‘twerking’ and ‘selfie’ need to be removed from the dictionary; it is the right thing to do.
Once again, I would like to thank you. You have let me know that I am not the only one who is outraged by what filth has been added to the dictionary. I hope your opinions rub off on other people so these words can be removed and prevent words like this being added again.
Yours sincerely,
Joe Moncur
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