Recently, a survey by the Social Survey Center of China Youth Daily showed that more than half of the young people surveyed felt that their language and writing skills had declined in recent years, 471 of the young people surveyed feel that they lack vocabulary and are monolithic. This survey has once again brought the phenomenon of "word poverty" among Chinese youth to the attention of the public.
In fact, this phenomenon has existed for a long time, and a survey conducted by the agency in 2019 showed that 765% of respondents feel that their language is becoming poorer. Respondents believe that young people's language poverty is manifested by their inability to speak poetry at all (61.).9%) and will not use complex rhetorical devices (576%）。
Praise is always "yyds", good-looking stage performances are all called "fried", no matter the food and beauty, everything can be "unique", and the high-level competition of chess opponents is collectively called "fairy fight" ......Similar expressions are not uncommon in life, and it seems difficult for young people to describe what is in front of them in concrete words. People define this phenomenon as "word aphasia".
Analyzing the reasons for this phenomenon, the author believes that there are no more than three points:
First, the amount of text reading has dropped sharply. The famous Austrian writer Zweig once said: "A person who likes to read freely and independently is the most difficult to conquer, and this is the true meaning of reading - spiritual autonomy." "Reading is an important part of learning language expression, and it goes without saying that it is valuable. However, young people are trapped in the turbulent flow of information all day long - watching short**, watching dramas, online shopping, online games, ......It is difficult to take time out to meet with paper books, and appreciate the true meaning of "there is a ** house in the book, and there is Yan Ruyu in the book".
On June 17, the Chinese character scene art exhibition held by Chongqing Erling No. 2 Factory attracted the public. (China News Service**).
Second, it is overly reliant on online "hot memes" and "memes". "Generation Z" is a generation that has grown up with Internet culture, and they can easily convey their feelings through buzzwords and "memes". To a certain extent, Internet terms are like some kind of "code", and the "stalk" represents "I understand you", which can quickly shorten the distance between each other. But if when expressing "watermelon and ice cream are delicious", these two different deliciousness are "yyds", then how is the difference between them reflected?
Third, young people are becoming more accustomed to typing and communicating, and opportunities for language communication are decreasing. Now that mobile phones have become a part of life, young people are overly reliant on online communication, and some people feel lonely and "socially afraid" in real life, which makes them more inclined to choose virtual socialization. "Fear that you won't be able to 'retract' if you say the wrong thing" has become one of the reasons why young people are ashamed to express it. Over time, the ability to express oneself in language gradually decreases.
There is already a group of young people who are starting to change this. In the Douban group "Mutual Aid Alliance for Textual Aphasia", more than 300,000 members insist on "chewing words" and rebuilding their own written language system.
For the charm of words, "Wenxin Carving Dragon" has already been expressed very thoroughly: therefore, its narrative of grievances is depressed and susceptible; When you say that you are leaving, you will be sad and nostalgic; On landscapes, follow the sound and get the appearance; Words and phrases are spoken, and when they are written.
Language is the carrier of thinking, a tool for thinking about the world, and the choice of expression affects the way people think. The singularity of language eventually translates into a lack of thinking, and the degradation of language leads to simplification of thinking. "Word poverty" and "aphasia" are not only words, but also the ability to think deeply in words that we rely on to express.
As Yu Guangzhong said, "It is true that language is alive, but it should be lived in good health, and it should not be prolonged with illness." I hope that when more people see the afterglow of the sunset, what comes to their minds is "the sunset and the lonely bird fly together, and the autumn water grows together in the sky", instead of "wow"; When I see the snowflakes flying in the sky, I can blurt out "suddenly like a night of spring breeze, thousands of trees and pear blossoms", instead of "the snow is so big, I was stunned" ......ENDS).
The content of this column is the author's personal opinion and does not represent the position of this platform. 】
Written by Zhi Yong.