It’s no secret that young women are at the forefront of linguistic innovation, often leading the charge in how language evolves from one generation to the next. They are the trailblazers of speech—more so than even literary giants like Shakespeare. According to Gretchen McCulloch, writing for Quartz, a study from linguists at the University of Helsinki analyzed 6,000 letters from the years 1417 to 1681, identifying 14 significant shifts in language over that period, such as the transition from “doth” to “does.” The findings revealed that women were responsible for the majority of these changes, outpacing men in their adaptability to new language forms—except in cases where men had superior access to education.
McCulloch emphasizes that this pattern remains consistent; young people have always been drivers of linguistic change, but gender plays a crucial role too. Research has repeatedly shown that women are often the catalysts for shifts in language. For instance, in New York, women are moving away from the traditional pronunciation of “r,” while they also influence trends like uptalk, vocal fry, and the ubiquitous use of “like.” Interestingly, these trends tend to manifest in the speech of men a generation later, primarily because boys absorb language patterns from the women in their lives—mothers and other caregivers. Young mothers, therefore, shape the way their sons will communicate. Meanwhile, young women are significantly influenced by their social circles, making them more attuned to linguistic changes.
So why the backlash against how women express themselves? The scrutiny often stems from societal sexism. We frequently regard men, especially middle-aged white men, as linguistic authorities; their speech is perceived as the standard, leading to the idea that everyone else is somehow less articulate or less confident.
Thus, a more fitting comeback to anyone who critiques a young woman for her use of “like” or her vocal fry might be something along the lines of, “I’m, like, a linguistic innovator.”
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In summary, young women are not just participants in language evolution; they are its leaders. Criticizing their speech patterns reflects a deeper societal bias that equates male speech with authority. Rather than disparaging young women’s ways of speaking, we should celebrate their role as innovators.
Keyphrase: young women linguistic innovation
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