Apparently, our generation killed English: So what language is this?

by Amanda Schroth

The English language is not dying because of texting, Facebook, or even blogging. What is killing the English language is the one shared voice that students must take up in their work. I am one of them.

I have gone through several drafts of an essay, reading each sentence and wondering if it is sophisticated enough. What the hell? I’m a freaking writer, and I’m censoring my own work just to get a damn A. But, I have to do this.

What is to be expected of us children? We’re constantly in the classroom being forced to write the most dreaded piece of writing to ever exist, the “Five-paragraph Essay.” We have to think of transitions and correct word choices that are mature and smart. It’s like the paper has been placed in front of us and we’re being told to write like a Greek philosopher—long sentence, big words, and vague meaning. What happened to our voices?

Orwell’s right—we’re trained to give formal, pre-prepared sentences to write down on to the piece of paper. As a writer, I cringe at the dreaded “blue as the ocean” metaphor. Everyone knows the ocean is blue, but no one gives a damn. Pick something else that creates a different image. Tell me it was as “blue as the Pepsi slogan’s background.” Something different, something original…something that is yours and free of other’s thoughts.

That right there is how we’re going to keep the English language alive.

Even with texting and blogging, the quick and unedited forms of writing that some claim to be garbage—the English language is not dying with our generation, but changing and evolving along with the rest of our culture. If anything, our language is spreading and expanding and being used more often than ever before. So forget writing that essay in the exact wording and phrasing that your professor is demanding. For once, use your own fucking voice. Don't try to be fancy or over the top, just be yourself and write that paper in a way that only you can. Maybe it will pay off and get you that A, and if not, well…there’s always the next essay to say what’s on your mind. Eventually, your teacher will get the hint.