Change from above Flashcards
1
Q
All changes from above ?
A
- Jonathan Swift
- Robert Lowth
- Samuel Johnson
- Schooling
2
Q
Why was there a push for a standard ?
A
- Grammarians concerned about the inconsistencies in the way people used the English Language
3
Q
What was the beliefs of Jonathan Swift ?
A
- believed the English Language was in chaos
- Believed contractions ( e.g. can’t, would’ve, twas, o’er, she’ll ) were corrupting English because they were inelegant
4
Q
Actions of Jonathan Swift ?
A
- proposed the appointment of experts to advise on English use
5
Q
Impact of actions of Jonathan Swift ?
A
- backlash against contractions led them to go out of fashion, and by the 1800s, they were much less common
6
Q
What did Samuel Johnson do ?
A
- published his ‘ Dictionary of the English Language ‘ in 1755
7
Q
What did Robert Lowth do ?
A
in 1762 Lowth published the first English grammar book
8
Q
Impact of Lowth’s grammar book ?
A
- Laid out some of the fundamental rules for ‘ correct ‘ usage
- He argued that some constructions were grammatically wrong like split infinitives
9
Q
Impact of schooling ?
A
- Aim of schooling was to teach pupils how to read and write in Standard English
- helped improve literacy rates
10
Q
When was schooling compulsory ?
A
- Schooling made compulsory in 1870 until the age of twelve
11
Q
Impact of all these changes ?
A
- led to the English Language becoming more standardised and similar to the English Language we recognise today
12
Q
Impact of Johnson’s Dictionary ?
A
- provided an authoritative and organised guide to the meaning, pronunciation and usage of words
- standardised vocabulary and spelling
- established norms for language usage
- allowed communication
