At least in legal community, there has been thought to simplify written documents so that it's easy to understand. It also appears, though, that media and other publications are similarly moving to simplify written English so it's not so hard to understand.
I don't have a problem with that. But I wonder by moving to simplify, we are dropping usage of certain vocabulary permanently. After all, lack of use will lead to death of words or even language altogether. And while every year, there is news about what new words make it into our lexicon (such as new words of 2012 by Merriam-Webster dictionary), I wonder what words died because of our movement to simplify our writing.
Just the other day, I learned a new word that I didn't know existed but could see how it could be used in our everyday conversation -- "overmorrow" which means the day after tomorrow. And yet, even though there is this one perfect word that could conceivably be used quite frequently, I have never heard anyone actually use it. I have read the phrase "day after tomorrow" quite often though.
So here's my thought. It's great to simplify writings to be understandable to public. But the move to simplify, perhaps, should not include not using what may be considered difficult vocabulary altogether. After all, those words probably can fit just perfectly in certain context. And who is to say it's not better for readers to go look up a word or two in the dictionary and start using them? I, for one, will start by using the word "overmorrow" and hope that it catches on.
