Social media sees English language evolve faster

The English language is evolving at a faster rate now than at any other time in history because of social media and instant messaging, a language expert has said.

Professor John Sutherland from University College London is the UK’s leading English expert, and has led a study into common social media and ‘text speak’ terms found most parents were baffled by the language used by their children.

According to the study, which was commissioned by technology giant Samsung to mark the launch of the Galaxy S6, there was now a “seismic generational gap” between the older and younger generations when it came to how modern informal language was used.