Language is Always Evolving
Why Do Languages Change Over Time?
Languages are always changing. The way people spoke centuries ago sounds very different today. But why does this happen? Whether you speak English, Urdu, Hindi, Chinese, Japanese, or Tamil, language evolution affects every culture. Let’s explore the fascinating reasons behind this transformation!
1. Cultural Exchange: Borrowed Words
When people from different cultures interact, they exchange words. Trade, migration, and globalization introduce new vocabulary into languages.
🔹 Examples from Around the World:
- Japanese borrowed パン (pan) from Portuguese (pão, meaning bread).
- Thai has many words from Sanskrit and Pali, especially in religious terms.
- English borrowed pyjamas from Urdu/Hindi (پاجامہ / पायजामा, pājāmā).
- Mandarin Chinese borrowed 沙发 (shāfā, sofa) from English.
🔹 Examples from South Asia:
- Urdu & Hindi borrowed many Persian and Arabic words, like kitab (book), waqt (time), and mohabbat (love).
- Tamil & Telugu adopted Sanskrit words, especially for religious and philosophical concepts.
- Pakistani Punjabi has absorbed many English words, like truck and office, which are now common in daily speech.
At the same time, English has borrowed South Asian words like shampoo (from Hindi/Urdu “chāmpo”) and jungle (from Sanskrit “jangala”).
2. Pronunciation Shifts: How Sounds Change
Over time, pronunciation naturally shifts, making old languages sound very different from modern ones.
🔹 Examples from Around the World:
- Old Chinese sounded very different from Mandarin today. 馬 (mǎ, horse) was once pronounced mraʔ.
- English changed dramatically after the Great Vowel Shift (1400s–1700s). House used to sound like hoose!
- Japanese dialects have noticeable pronunciation differences, such as Tokyo vs. Osaka accents.
🔹 Examples from South Asia:
- Urdu & Hindi once pronounced Persian and Arabic letters more clearly, but modern speakers simplify them.
- Bengali speakers drop certain consonants at the end of words (Bangla instead of Bengala).
- Sanskrit words in Hindi have changed over time; Saptáh (week) is now just Hafta in Urdu/Hindi.
Even within one language, different regions have distinct accents—just compare Mumbai Hindi vs. Delhi Hindi!
3. Simplifying Grammar Over Time
Languages tend to drop complex grammar structures, making speech easier.
🔹 Examples from Around the World:
- Classical Chinese had more rigid sentence structures, while modern Mandarin is simpler.
- Old English used to have more complex verb endings, similar to German, but modern English is much simpler.
- Japanese once had more verb endings, but the language has standardized over time.
🔹 Examples from South Asia:
- Old Sanskrit had complex verb conjugations, but modern Hindi and Bengali have simplified them.
- Classical Tamil was more rigid, while modern Tamil allows more flexible word order.
- Urdu once followed more Persian-style sentence structures, but today it has simplified.
This process makes languages more practical for daily use while keeping their cultural depth.
4. Technology and New Words
New inventions and digital communication introduce new vocabulary.
🔹 Examples from Around the World:
- Mandarin Chinese: Created words like 刷屏 (shuāpíng, screen swiping) for smartphone culture.
- Japanese: Adapted インターネット (intānetto, internet) and スマホ (sumaho, smartphone) from English.
- Korean: Developed 셀카 (selka, selfie camera).
🔹 Examples from South Asia:
- Hinglish & Urdish (Hindi/Urdu mixed with English): People now say “Laptop kholo” (Open the laptop) or “File bhej do” (Send the file).
- Indian & Pakistani social media slang:
- Jugaad (Hindi, meaning a clever fix)
- Scene on hai (Urdu, meaning “Everything’s set!”)
- New Hindi & Urdu tech words:
- मोबाइल (Mobile) – borrowed from English.
- ای میل (E-mail) – adapted into Urdu.
- इंटरनेट (Internet) – transliterated into Hindi.
Social media speeds up language changes, making old words disappear faster than ever!
5. Words Disappear Over Time
Just as new words appear, some words fade away.
🔹 Examples from Around the World:
- Old English words like “thou” and “hast” are now mostly seen in poetry.
- Japanese kanji characters for some words have become rare in modern use.
- Ancient Chinese imperial court language is no longer spoken.
🔹 Examples from South Asia:
- Many Persian and Arabic words in Urdu are now considered “too formal” and rarely spoken.
- Sanskrit-origin words in Hindi are slowly being replaced by English or simpler Hindi words.
- In Pakistan, many old Punjabi words are being replaced with Urdu or English.
For example, the Urdu word “Gaahak” (customer) is now mostly replaced by “Customer” in daily speech.
Conclusion: Language is Always Evolving
Language change is natural, unstoppable, and exciting. Whether it’s borrowing words, shifting pronunciation, simplifying grammar, or adapting to technology, languages reflect the world around them.