bailey's wave model (1973)

Question 1

(1) what did bailey suggest about language change?

Answer 1

he suggested that geographical distance has an effect on language change.

Question 2

(2) what metaphor did bailey use for change?

Answer 2

a stone hits a water surface and creates ripples; the closer to the centre, the stronger the ripple.

Question 3

(3) what does his metaphor mean?

Answer 3

those closest to the epicentre of a language change will adopt new language change faster than those further away, and the more rapidly people will pick up the change.

Question 4

(4) what could be an example of this?

Answer 4

a word adapted or adopted by multicultural youths in London is unlikely to affect white middle class speakers in Edinburgh, as they are removed from the epicentre both culturally and socially.

Question 5

(5) what type of technology could be used as an argument against the model?

Answer 5

• since this model was created 50 years ago, factors such as social media could be used as an argument against the model as it has led to instant communication (evaluate with David Crystal).
• however, when he was writing this at the time it could’ve been true.

Question 6

EVALUATION: Infectious Disease Metaphor

Answer 6

some prescriptivists believe that we “catch” change from those around, as if language is “contagious” (argues against bailey/william labov).
she argues people have more agency than that, they consciously pick up change/dialectal terms because they want to and choose appropriate language use for their context (convergence).
example: brat summer, demure.

Question 7

does Bailey believe language change can be controlled and directed?

Answer 7

no: those closest to where the change occurs will most likely pick up change.