Difference of Language

Language is one of the most significant elements of human civilization. It has been playing an important role in people’s lives for thousands of years. Numerous information is carried by language so that people could communicate with each other for all sorts of purpose. Since language has such a deep connection with human activities, it is also being affected by the change of human society. Language itself may have many variations due to the difference of occasions and the difference of culture background.
Along with time passing, language has very distinct changes. One example is the way of greeting by two different generations in Chinese oral language. Among the generation of Chinese speakers like my parents, the opening sentence of greeting would very often to be “Have you eat already?” The deeper reason they are used to ask this question is that their parents and some of their contemporaries had experienced the so called Three Years of Natural Disasters in China. During the year of 1959 and 1961, because of poor economic policies and series of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, nationwide famine occurred in China. Most civilians could not even feed themselves at that time. Due to this special historical event, Chinese people were getting used to talking about daily meals as their way of greetings. Oppositely, my peers and I are living in much wealthier and happier environment than our parents, so that we do not have to worry about food. Naturally, we do not ask “Have you eat already?” when we met each other. Instead, we say “How’s going?” or just “Hello.” when greeting.
Generally speaking, people around me are the main effect of my language when I am in a specific situation. In formal occasions, I have to be very respectful to elders; it is not permitted to call elders directly by their names. There are specific titles for elders in different ranges of age. Usually I will wish the elders long life and happy family. When I am in less formal situations like hangout with my friends, I do not have to concern about ages or social positions when talking to others. I can make jokes and call others by name.