The Difference in the Use of Language between the Young and the Old Generation - Research Proposal Example

It is evident that the old generation tends to differ with the young generation in their use of language when they speak. This topic is necessary in the study of language as it illustrates how the language barrier tends to affect communication between the young generation and the old generation (Cissna & Keating, 2007). The purpose of the study This study will focus on the difference in the use of language between the young and the old generation. The difference in language use between the young generation and the old generation arises from factors such as; difference in perspectives between the two generations.

The other factor is the difference in the topics that are normally discussed by people belonging to the two generations, and stereotypes also contribute to this difference in language use between the young and the old generation. It is evident that the taboos that people of the old generation were exposed to influence their use of language; they are normally formal in their use of language (Fletcher, 2007). Stereotypes also influence the difference in the use of language between the young generation and the old generation in that; the perceptions of people belonging to the young generation towards people belonging to the old generation results to a difference in the use of language between the two generations. . These expectations, therefore, influence the difference language between the two generations (Gibb, 2008).

The other factor that results to a variance in the use of language amid the young generation and the old generation is the generational perspective. In this instance, it is evident that people who lived during World War 2 and the Great depression, tend to be formal in their use of language, this is because of the belief instilled in them that the use of language contributes to respect. However, there is a generation referred to as the Baby Boomers who tend to exhibit a communication style that tends to be more personal.

The other generation is generation X that exhibits little formality in their use of language. Therefore, it is true to state that the generational perspective also influences the difference in language use between the two generations (Hayes, 2003). The change in technology, which led to, the introduction of computers, phones and social media have also led to a difference in language use between the young and the old generation. The change in technology has normally led to a generational communication style, which has also affected the language of persons belonging to the young generation.

Technology has contributed to the use of slang by people of the young generation, resulting to variation in the language used by people of the old generation that tends to be restrained and formal (Day, 2007). However, the difference in the use of language between the old and the young generation has also been accompanied by some advantages. It is believed that the difference in the use of language tends to bridge the gap between the two generations. It is evident that for there to be a difference between these two generations, it is essential that a