How Has Language Changed Over Time: Shift of Values in Australia

Contemporary Australia contains a mixture of values which has shifted and evolve during time or inherited from the past. Consequently, Australian language is also a fusion of modern English and traditional English, which reflecting these contrasting values. There is a question “How has language changed over time?” the essay explains that the traditional value of mateship and egalitarianism is well maintained during the language evolution as it is the irreplaceable and quintessential value of Australia both past and present. In addition, these traditional values are presented to the world by some intentional stagnation of language. However, the developing of multiculturalism has caused alteration in variety of Australian English used in modern society.

Mateship and egalitarianism, as the fundamental and traditional values of Australia, have maintained while the accompanying language feature experiences change. In the Australian slanguage, myriad of old slang such as “galah” (fool person), “porky” (lie) has died out by forgotten or replaced; an example of this replacement is the American slang “bro” begins to replacing “mate” which reflect that Australian slang has been influence by external cultures. However, these language changes do not represent any shifting in values as mateship is preserved as the new slang still works on decreasing social distance and construct group membership. Similarly, taboo language has even changed to present egalitarianism better. The example of generalised swearing words such as “fuck me”, “you are a good cunt” demonstrate that momentous of taboo language has been regards as method of positive expressing emotion and decreasing social distance. Furthermore, this generalise of taboo language contains further meaning of egalitarianism as in swearing is available with people from different social class and status, where a superior and staff can speak with taboo language. Therefore, even Australian language has experienced changes in slanguage and taboo language, the core value of these features has not altered where even contributes on modifying English to create better relevance with values.

As a global country, Australian has subjectively contributes on some language evolution which support the establishment of Australia identity and value. Accent, as a distinctive feature of Australian English, starts to become well-known in the world. For example, Wikipedia has announced that broad Australian accent is most popular accent in the world as the ex-prime minister Julia Gillard presented broad accent in some public speech. This reveals that Australian accent starts to become overt in the world for establishing “Aussie” identity. Furthermore, Australian people starts to develop a code switching with foreigner tourist to demonstrate Australian accent. People with cultivated and general accent is subjectively switching their accent to broad as broad accent is more famous, which discovered that some usage of language changes due to subjective intention of introducing Australia. In addition, Australian slanguage has also harvested attention of the world. The example of “G’day” “arvo” has been recognised by foreigner reveals that slanguage and the traditional values is presented to the world. These examples illustrate that Australian citizens intend to show more features of Australian English to where language change is needed to create iconic image of Australia because these features demonstrate mateship and egalitarianism.

However, due to the development of society, Australia has discovered a new value of multiculturalism which has been reflected by evolutionary language. “The term Aborigine was commonly used up until about 1960s but is now generally regarded as outdated and inappropriate.” This example reveals that the attitude toward aboriginal people has altered as higher degree of respect has been payed toward aboriginal culture. “Aborigines” is a common word that used to indicate all Indigenous Australian in the past; however, with the rising of multiculturalism, people recognise individually tribes such as “koori” and “warundjery”. This reveals that through development of multiculturalism, language has altered to better present new value and spread egalitarianism. Similarly, ethnolects also received attention from Australian in which different of ethnolects like Greek ethnolect become more popular to where people begin to use more ethnolect lexemes such as “souvlaki” in their everyday vernacular. This phenomenon can be further extended to where Australian presents an encouraging attitude with other language speakers about using and translating their native words into English. Some linguist even started to record ethnolect words which contains cultural element such as the Chinese dragon “loong”. Australian is experiencing a language change in ethnolect and foreigner language as them reflecting the evolved value of multiculturalism by distinguishing other language specifically with respect and encouraging the use of other language.

Overall, Australia has experienced momentous of language changes which reflect either traditional value or shifted and developed values. Slanguage, taboo language have modified to better reflect contemporary values. This has combined with social attitude of creating a unique relationship between Australian and the world. On the other hand, the modern society structure consist of the new value of multiculturalism which has also influenced language.