the golden age of language

Question 1

what is the belief of a ‘golden age’ of language and who is it perpetuated by?

Answer 1

• it is a myth, often perpetuated by prescriptivists.
• it is the belief that there was once a time when language was purer, used more perfectly, or more eloquent than it is today.
• however, this notion is largely unsupported by linguistic evidence.

Question 2

what does the ‘golden age’ persist?

Answer 2

• nostalgia: people often look back on the past with fondness, often citing the ‘good old days’ believing that things were better then. this can extend to language, with older generations sometimes expressing a preference for the way language was used in the past.
• prescriptivism: some people believe that there is a “correct” way to use language, and that modern usage is deteriorating. this perspective often stems from a desire to maintain traditional standards and avoid errors.