I do think eloquence is dying out, and I am no exception. Some may blame the educational system for the lack of larger vocabulary in people, but I think that its a lack of reading. When we read, we learn new words, and new ways to use words we already know.

To a certain extent, I think so. In the age of twitter and incessant 'texting' people just don't bother to make coherent statements. A lot of people don't realize that with proper application, language is an art in itself.

They're, their, there -- really isn't that hard to figure out.

People just don't care any more. With all of this texting, IM-ing etc, it's no surprise that people don't use proper spelling and grammar. Some people don't even use the "check spelling" on this site, which is really irksome.

Unfortunately, the fact that it is possible for anyone to post anything on the Internet has led to people whose linguistic skills are questionable to writing things up which we daily pass. This simply leads to more less than intelligent people copying that style, and a vicious cycle ensues.

I imagine the level of linguistic prowess amongst posters in this debate would be superior with regards to their other posts, it would be funny to compare I think.

It's very true, but perhaps not for the reasons cited before me. First it must be noted that eloquence regards oration, it's definition doesn't include the written medium. Eloquence is a practiced skill not diminished by surrounding bufoonery, one doesn't forget to ride a bike amongst skateboarders. The issue with the torturous death of proper language relation lies in the lack of necessity. One could spend entire days butchering the language, while still arriving home to recite poetic structure to their family. I suspect some of us are inherently drawn to the beauty of language, ergo there will always be a population to support the art, whether the majority is of the same mind or not. Perhaps the majority supporting the art had little to do with appreciation and more with caste, should this be the case, it stands to reason that in this age there's a marked decrease in the structure of language relation. The only thing I can say for sure, is that this debate will attract the like-minded, and that we aren't gone yet :)

I am sick of listening to halfwits vomit out poorly composed sentences, replete with inappropriate words and fabricated words like staycation and refudiate (Sarah Palin). I think the day will come when we have a cliché for everything, and sentences will be structured thus:

"At the end of the day|you just have to|keep going| y'know?|I mean|like,|it's a difficult job but somebody's got to do it|you just have to think outside of the box..."

It goes on and on and on (pun). Endless reams of nothing, encouraged by the sensationalist media and the host of idiots therein.