One hundred and forty-five thousand words are present in the latest edition of the “Lo Zingarelli” dictionary (Zanichelli, 2019) 1 . Of these, only seven thousand make up our basic lexicon (Il Fatto Quotidiano, 2019) 8 , less than 5% of the words in our native language. If we were to represent this proportion with our alphabet, we would obtain little more than the letter A. This blood loss owes its cause to the continuous tendency towards simplification and immediacy.
Today we will attempt to analyze language , focusing in particular on its unstoppable impoverishment. We will define and analyze the presence of a so-called " gray zone ," a place between two polar opposites that is increasingly overlooked. The composition is divided as follows: first, we introduce the gray zone and the impoverishment of language; then, we will analyze the areas in which it is disappearing—gender identity, cultural belonging, and public opinion—and we will delve deeper into the increased need for rapid communication with the emergence of social networking platforms.
The specialty of the “grey zone”
What could be defined as the gray zone encompasses all the alternatives located between two dichotomies. Between black and white lies an infinite scale of grays representing third possibilities and mediations. Unfortunately, due to issues related to the human tendency toward simplification , this area is often overlooked, despite its extremely valid nature. The classic "yes or no?" has always been a highly effective decision-making gesture that mentally and unconsciously encircles our interlocutor, depriving them of the possibility of a "neither." In setting themselves the mission of representing objective reality, modern social human beings will face two major obstacles: the lack of an appropriate vocabulary and language in its essence.
A limited lexicon prevents adequate specificity in objective description, approximating the final result. In the description of a vase, for example, the adjectives regarding shape and color can be almost infinite, yet no more than one word will be used. Language itself further complicates the description of objective reality , since the path from our thoughts to the sentence we utter contains limiting organizational structures (Ong, 1982) 2 . The technologization of the word consists in the introduction of new thought patterns derived from literacy, transforming the cognitive style (ibidem).
Immediacy and carelessness
Faced with such complications, the social human response is carelessness . The question of the importance of a thorough vocabulary is little debated, especially among the new generations. In modern communication, the key point that gains most prominence is immediacy: a message must reach many recipients in a short time, regardless of how they will interpret it. It is important to recognize the value of speed in this theory , which, in certain areas (such as the well-known " breaking news "), is essential and extremely useful. A short message that spreads quickly can help in news reporting and is less distracting in everyday communication . On the other hand, this implies an impoverishment of the vocabulary.
The tendency to use this language excludes several figures present in our society from the social scene, such as people with congenital blindness. A study in this regard demonstrates the importance of an accurate vocabulary for both the sender and the recipient of the message, when one of the two is blind (Bonfigliuoli, Pinelli, 2008) . 3 The blind subject must be able to create a mental representation of the object, and an accurate description is among the stimuli indicated (ibidem).
The future fundamental lexicon that is expected would be further impoverished, sadly reminiscent of Orwell's Newspeak . An interesting study that will be analyzed below will specify other areas in which an impoverished and incorrectly used language entails various complications that are often overlooked.
The consequences of modern language on gender identity
Until recently, all human beings were categorized into two genders, male and female , based on their genitals at birth. This bipolarized belonging has deprived all queer people , including transsexuals, intersex people, and non-binary genders, of legitimate identification. Only recently has the gray area of this area emerged, and these groups of people have engaged in activism to gain recognition, but not all countries accept them. Few forms of initiative aimed at the social inclusion of these categories are in place (Spade, 2015) 4.
School education does not teach the presence of these people , but schools of thought supporting this gray area are developing on a large scale. A concrete example is the case of model Emily Ratajkowski who, currently pregnant, declared that she does not want to know the gender of her child until he turns eighteen, he himself will say so (Vogue, 2020) 9 . In this context, it is clear how the gray area is fundamental to guarantee complete freedom of expression for all human beings who are no longer confined to two simplified categories ; everyone is free to be themselves.
Language and cultural belonging
Another area where a limited number of definitions conflict is cultural affiliation. In administrative documents, the choice is based on a limited number of predefined options, preventing the emergence of additional cultural groups. The problem lies in the design of the certificates : by avoiding a free choice, individuals will be forced to fit into already existing and recognized groups.
This example of misuse of language is among the worst, as it avoids the recognition of cultural identities that exist and contribute to the collective social landscape. A valid solution is offered by philosopher Benhabib: encouraging the introduction of self-identifications (Benhabib, 2002) . 5 In this way, everyone has the opportunity to choose and even create their own cultural affiliation, eliminating any type of constraint. Cultural self-identification must also be fluid, with the possibility of change over time.
Language and public opinion
The final sector analyzed, a victim of polarized conflicts, is public opinion. An excellent starting point for reflection is provided by sociologist Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann, creator of the spiral of silence theory. According to this theory, individuals, by constantly monitoring controversial issues, conform to the majority opinion . Those who, on the other hand, hold a different opinion, and therefore are a minority, do not express their opinion, disappearing from the social scene (Noelle-Neumann, 2002) . 6 The sociologist quotes Tocqueville:
“Fearing isolation more than error, they joined the crowd without thinking like it.” 6
However, there are figures such as innovators or avant-gardes: minorities who are not afraid to express themselves. Echo chambers are strengthening elements of this model; they consist of the repetition and amplification of ideas and beliefs within a system (Boccia, Bentivegna, 2019) . Social networking platforms are a legitimate example.
The language and speed of new media.
The emergence of new media, specifically social media, has laid the foundation for the creation of new communication models focused on the speed of the message. The goal is to reach as many people as possible with short, high-impact messages . To achieve this, the use of increasingly sparse and impoverished vocabulary is necessary. The consequences of these communication models are already visible today, but they will become significantly more pronounced in a few years, when several generations of digital natives will be born with a thorough familiarity with this language from an early age.
Vocabulary will become increasingly essential, thanks also to the massive use of increasingly detailed emoticons (SkyTg24, 2020) 10 . It will be easier for users to express themselves and give connotations to their messages through these small images, rather than using appropriate definitions present in their language. Finally, new media, thanks to their high possibility of interaction, have a greater power of attraction than reading : according to ISTAT data, in 2015, 45,6% of young people aged 20 to 24 read at least one book; while 90,7% declared they had used the internet (ISTAT, 2016) 11.
The above statements are not intended to condemn social media platforms, nor do they intend to reintroduce the usual and outdated dichotomy between the internet and books. The two can coexist because they complement each other; one succeeds where the other fails. Social media is a tool; its effectiveness depends on how it is used.
Knowing how to speak
Mastering one's native language is essential for expressing clear concepts, increasing objectivity. An adequate vocabulary allows one to get closer to describing objective reality , a feat that is still barely possible today. Even when looking at the issue from a utilitarian perspective based on time optimization, it's clear that rich language, while requiring more comprehensive explanations with longer durations, avoids future misunderstandings that would require more time.
Appropriate terminology allows individuals to adopt greater explanatory clarity and develop more constructive discussions, ensuring the existence of the gray area and its many possibilities. By breaking down the limitations and confines of forced choices, unquestioned freedom is achieved, allowing everyone to reveal their own opinions, gender, and cultural affiliations.
There is no doubt that language is one of the main tools for transmitting our culture; if this is impoverished, our wealth of knowledge will also suffer.
Paul Limatola
To learn more
Bibliography
- Zanichelli (2019), the Zingarelli 2020
- Ong W. (1982), Orality and Writing. The Technologies of Word.
- Bonfigliuoli C., Pinelli M. (2008), Lexical enrichment and visual impairment: the laboratories of the senses
- Spade D. (2015). Normal life: Administrative violence, critical trans politics, and the limits of law.
- Benhabib S. (2002), The Claim of Cultural Identity: Equality and Diversity in the Global Era. Chapter 2
- Noelle-Neumann E. (2002), The spiral of silence – Towards a theory of public opinion.
- Bentivegna S., Boccia Artieri G., 2019 Mass communication theories and the digital challenge
Sitography
- Il Fatto Quotidiano (2019), Italian language, the Zingarelli 2020 highlights the 'words to be saved': now those at risk of extinction are on tour in the squares
- Vogue (2020), Emily Ratajkowski on Pregnancy and Why She Doesn't Want to Reveal the Gender of Her Baby
- SkyTg24 (2020), Android, new emojis coming soon. One helps express the chaos of 2020.
- ISTAT (2016), Aspects of daily life
