Changes In Eng Lang Flashcards
What’s language change?
When language evolves over time, resulting in differences in pronunciation,vocabulary,grammar and how it’s used generation to next.
What are examples of sound changes?
Changes in sound of the language, affects pronunciation of words. Changes in phonological or phonetic structure of lang. ie: change in vowel sounds from middle to early modern eng
What did Otto jespersen say about vowels?
The great vowel shift= raising of long vowels and long monophthongs
Ie: middle Eng- mu:s (moos), wi:f (weef)
Now- maus- mouse
Waif-wife
What’s are two types of changes?
Permanent and gradual
What’s a gradual change?
Speakers of a language prefer steadiness of their language
What’s a permanent change?
More willing to accept originality, unfamiliarity and changes
What’s a lexical change?
Changes in a languages vocabulary. Ie: English lots of borrowed words from French,Latin and German. Now part of eng lexicon.
What words are borrowed from French?
Ballet, novel,irony, energy
What words are borrowed from Latin?
Lexicon,formula,apparatus
What words are borrowed from German?
Pretzel, hamster, rucksack,blitz
What is the creation of new words called?
Neologism
What’s a semantic change?
Changes in meanings of words over time
What are examples of semantic changes?
ie: head- part of the body in humans and animals, head of pin,screw or nail
What’s a syntactic change?
Changes in the structure of syntax in a language
What’s syntax?
Ways words come together to form sentences and phrases.
Examples of syntactic change?
Shown through Changing verbs. Ie: verb ‘go’ from OE- ‘gān’
Ie: ‘go’ in past tense= not ‘goed’, verb ‘went’ used as past tense of ‘to wend’
What causes the English language to change?
Migration+trade- people moving countries + trading with others, interact with those who speak different languages.
Borrowing words/ sounds from other language ie: bangles,shawl,cot,dungarees 🇮🇳
Other languages borrowed from English.ie: Portuguese used Eng words converted to their lang= tennis, tênis, football, futebol
What did Saphir Whoef and Benjamin Whorf?
Your language determines and shape your world view + understanding (linguistic determinism)
Examples of words that had different meanings?
Gay used to mean joyous and happy, turned into a term for homosexuals
Awful used to mean ‘full of awe’ now it’s a negative word
How does words change meanings to?
Political correctness= actor= male and female
External factors= technological advancements:bug,virus,windows,
Social studies- LGBTQ replacing unacceptable words
Internal factors= similarities- computer virus, like a virus
What’s it called when meanings of words shift over time?
Neosemy
What are criticisms to language change?
Can’t prove if language determines thought or thought determines language
We can think about things we don’t have words for
People with autism may not have language but have powerful thoughts (math skills)
What is narrowing?
Meaning of a word narrows.ie: ‘meat’ used to mean food generally
What’s weakening?
A word loses its impact. Ie: terrible used to mean causing terror
What’s broadening?
Meaning of a word broadens. ‘Butcher’ used to mean slaughterer of goats
What’s functional shift?
Word class changes. ‘Text’- noun
‘To text’- verb
What’s peroration?
Meaning becomes more negative. ‘Hussy’- was housewife
‘Notorious’ meant well known
What’s amelioration?
Meaning more positive. Pretty used to mean cunning
Nice- used to mean foolish
How are changes caused from older to newer generations?
Develop vocab influenced by older generations speaking to us
There are variations of how we replicate what we hear from older generations-> leading changes in language from older to newer generation
Why is language change an ongoing process?
Adaption of languages to the changing needs of language speakers
What’s frequency of use?
When older words less likely to be used, so old words are dropped.
New words made, keep up with evolution. Ie: new words added to Oxford Eng dictionary,older words removed
How has technology caused new words to be made?
Invention of tech=new words, describe inventions that didn’t exist. New words for invention of internet:email, emoticon
How does technology breed new language?
Lexical ranges are added when new technology is developed. Ie: TV streaming=TV, live, show, episodes, subscription.
What are some language features of 19th century?
Multiple comparatives- 19th century double comparatives.ie: more cleverer= more clever
Lost superlatives - ie: properest= more proper
Syntax- shorter sentences, fewer commas.
Contractions- common in 18th century ie:tis,twas.
Double negotiation- I don’t want nothing
What language features have been lost from 19th century?
Loss of thou/thee- to ‘you’
What did 19th century think about grammar?
Correct grammar associated with social status
Bad grammar- low social status
