Language is one of the most distinctive characteristics of peoples. Its evolution is linked to the development of humanity, and it is also part of the culture of each nation.
In Cuba, the official language is Spanish, spoken in approximately 21 countries. Generally, Cubans have an adequate command of Spanish, but in recent years, some forms of expression have attempted to undermine the cleanliness of our way of speaking.
This phenomenon is observed with greater force in young people and adolescents, prone to fall into fads that come, in most cases, from digital social networks. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, are some of the platforms on which the new generations interact, not always with the care required for writing and good use of words.
This is mainly due to the haste with which they “text” on the cell phone, which forces them to suppress accents and punctuation marks, in addition to spelling mistakes such as changes of “c” and “s”. The use of capital letters is also subject to errors, as they are either avoided altogether or abused.
It should be noted that most mobile devices have an autocorrector that helps correct spelling mistakes as you type, however, this tool is effective only when the user knows the spelling rules and knows how to use words according to the context. The autocorrector by itself does not have the capacity to interpret the ideas; that is the task of the writer.
In oral expression, the picture is similar. In the conversations of the youngest, most of the ideas appear among speech crutches, incomplete pronunciation and even swear words.
Thus Spanish, one of the richest languages in the world, is often reduced to an empty expression. Perhaps the root of the problem lies in the deficient habit of reading. Reading is, without a doubt, the most effective action to eradicate the ills that afflict the language. From short stories and novels to scientific journals, anything that adds value is welcome and useful for developing language skills. It is also possible to learn from screens, always with moderation and astuteness.
If language is part of our identity, of what represents us, then using it correctly should be a priority. It is not a matter of unattainable perfection, but of respect for our mother tongue. As Martí once said, speak without stains.
Written by student of Yadila Mesa Chacón
