Evolution and Vocabulary

Maybe the likes of Darwin and Spenser hand it wrong. Maybe evolution doesn't result from "the survival of the fittest." Specifically, I'm thinking about the recent evolution of vocabulary.

I know, over the years, English language usage has changed. Note reading, say, the letters of the Founding Fathers, merely 200+ years ago, to see the differences. Some of the changes have seemed good, others not so hot. I don't like what I am reading and hearing now. It seems like we are regressing in how we communicate.

Words are now used awkwardly. Often it appears we are trying to sound intelligent by using a word when an easier, more communcative, and specific form of the same word is available. And, most frequently, we use words so much, in so many trivial ways and situations, the words have become almost meaningless, even with the usage for which they were intended. Trite immediately comes to mind when hearing them.

I cringe when I hear people use them, sometimes retorting with a smart wisecrack. "Let's 'conference' about that tomorrow." Ooh, does that hurt? "Shall we reference the phone call?" How about referring to the call? And doesn't the trendy use of the word "grow" just grate on you? "How can we grow our business?" I thought trees and beans and grass and flowers "grow?" Ditto for the word "impact." Instead of "That impacted our efforts," how about "That had an impact on our efforts?"

"Totally," "absolutely," and "definitely" are thrown away in so much conversation, in ways that make little if any sense, that they've become almost useless in real conversation and writing. How about the overuse of the word "so?" "That jacket is so brown!"

Adults have joined right in on this. I don't know if they think talking like kids makes them cool or not. I wonder if these are the same people who frown on Eubonics. Beats me.

But, I will not use words such as these. I have resisted so far and never find having to catch myself because they are so banal, trite, and meaningless. I know, I know...language is always evolving. I suppose that means getting better and getting worse. But let's not mistake this evolution with "survival of the fittest."

Gee, do I sound like an old curmudgeon?