The thing is, Poirot, you presumably can understand the archaic and turgid language George Rolle's letter while at the same time using up-to-the-minute Aussie English. If teens of my acquaintance are anything to go by the relatively recent prose of Jane Austen is already a bridge too far for anyone below Extension English. And you only have to suffer a few pages of managerial or educational jargon to know that inpenetrable prose is still with us.

WmTrevor,

Pardon?

Candide,

Yep, I get what you're saying.

It's a strange world of rapidly changing technologies and of habit's rapidly changing also.

But I have hope. Young children are remarkable in their ability to make sense of the "grammar of language". There's no reason to assume that the trend will necessarily be downhill all the way.

Ever since my son (in the middle of a five year-old plonker) informed me that he "was no longer affiliated with me" I've had a sort of respect for the ingenuity and creativity of young people.

Perhaps they'll lead the way, utilising and adapting the game rules to our advantage..... because, as always, it's our generation that has provided the mechanisms for change.

Poirot, you say, " Because, as always, it's our generation that has provided the mechanisms for change."

When I looked last at the world, I didn't notice much change. Same old wars involving rape and plundering, greed, duplicity, rape of the environment, sexual deviation, child molestation, lying politicians, gun massacres, etc.

Perhaps you are talking about changes not readily evident at least to me. Your further enlightenment would be appreciated.

David,

I was referring to language and it's evolution amidst new technologies and ways of living (in the West).

That mankind basically demonstrates the same brutish behaviour behind a civilised and resplendent facade is a given.

Poirot, you mention: "...that mankind basically demonstrates the same brutish behaviour behind a civilised and resplendent facade is a given."

Do you have any map co-ordinates which show where this 'civilized and resplendent facade' can be seen?

It can't be in Australia because we are not civilized and it certainly can't be in the U.S. because they are even worse than us.