Is the English language being "dumbed down", and if so, why?

[anvi]

I'm late to this discussion.  I tend to think that the spoken language should be as rich as possible with idioms and everything else.  And I think it's good for all of this to be reflected in literature.  I don't think there is ever "dumbing down" in that.  But for some kinds of prose, I like more conventional writing styles, not because I want to impose anything on anyone, but I think it helps if writing is a clear as possible.  It's easier to communicate one's meaning in a spoken conversation where there is a lot of back and forth and there are ample chances to clarify what one says.  But often in writing, there aren't too many second chances to successfully communicate one's meaning, for all kinds of reasons.  Good, clear prose, in my experience, really helps in that.  So, when certain kinds of written prose are "dumbed down," for whatever reason, I think that doesn't do people much good.  JMO