About Generation Communication Languages

Language and Generational Gap

Language is continually being changed through many mechanisms. The generational nature of many style changes means that some generations have adopted a few new vocabulary.

Generational Gap in Language Use

Sometimes, in an effort to meet the apparent demands of the generation concerned, it is not necessary to introduce wholly new language. Instead, existing terms may be modified. As a result, there is what is known as a generational gap—a space between the various generations of individuals. The various language features that may be different from those of previous generations include words, sentences, and even construction are all included in the variance in language use. The difference in generational use of language would best manifest at workplaces, among other places that contain people from more than one generation, working together. However, since language has a significant role to play in society with regards to unifying people by enhancing understanding, there is the need for people to strive and get acquainted with new language forms that emerge (Duszak & Okulska, 2011). The resulting impact of this understanding is the elimination of the potential language barrier that would otherwise exist among the generations considered.

Differences in Language Use

For an elderly person at work, a phrase like, ‘it sucks’ would mean an entirely different thing from what the same phrase would imply for a younger individual in the same setup. The younger generations would interpret this phrase to mean something being probably very unfortunate or disagreeable. To the older generations, however, this statement is an example of phrases that ought to be avoided, being distasteful. Such are the differences in language use. Slang is the very initial stage of any new phrase before acceptance by people that use a particular language.

Acceptance of Slang

There is, however, no standard to meet for slang to be qualified for official purposes. By some means, the slang automatically becomes acceptable and is hence adopted for everyday use by everybody. Elderly persons equally remain conservative on some of their generational slang, despite the introduction of newer ones. An old person at work could mention a phrase like ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ or even ‘the salt of the earth’. A younger colleague in the same setup may probably not have any clue as to what these two phrases mean (Spence, Rojas & Straubhaar, 2011).

Closing the Generational Gap

The impact of the generational gapping by language is clear and vivid.

Getting Generations Together

Most important though, is the question of how to get these separated generations together. Being caught up in such a situation would mean that someone finds their way out of it, to maintain or improve coherence and coexistence. Following the processes around the development of language, it is seen that at some point, slang could become so common that it finds its way into everyday use by more than a generation. For this reason, therefore, there is the need to strive and narrow this gap, if not closing it altogether. It may seem impossible, but it is, of course, one of the best ways to go about solving this issue.

The Role of Language in Coherence

Conclusively, language has proven to be so much welcoming, especially to people who do not have its first knowledge. It is for this reason that people can study new languages and continue to use them for a lifetime (TaeJoon Kim, 2013). In closing this gap, people may have to drop their conservative traits and instead become more flexible to the changes that occur in the language. The net effect of this not only serves them better but also limits the gap in the generations and maintains some amount of coherence in language use. In this manner, the impacts of generational gapping would be significantly limited.

References

Duszak, A., & Okulska, U. (2011). Language, culture and the dynamics of age. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.

Spence, J., Rojas, V., & Straubhaar, J. (2011). Generational Shifts in Language Use Among US Latinos: Mobility, Education and Occupation. International Migration, 51(5), 172-191. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2435.2010.00660.x

TaeJoon Kim. (2013). Korean Language and Korean Literature for the Communication between Generations. The Korean Language And Literature, null(164), 5-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.17291/kolali.2013..164.001