Current changes Flashcards
What is the traditional assumption about Late Modern English (1700-1900)?
A linguistically ‘boring’ period with few changes of interest.
What significant social changes occurred during the Late Modern English period?
Much greater social and geographical mobility, increase in travel and communication.
What genres emerged or strengthened during the Late Modern English period?
- Newspapers
- Cooking books
- Letters
What is the incipient development of English during the 19th century?
Development of English into a world language.
Which grammars and pronunciation guides were published in Late Modern English?
- Johnson’s Dictionary (1755)
- Lowth’s Short Introduction to English Grammar (1762)
- Cobbett’s A Grammar of the English Language (1818)
What idea became prominent regarding language and social advancement?
The idea of social advancement through language.
What is Received Pronunciation (RP) and when did it emerge?
A prestige accent established during Late Modern English, associated with public schools and universities.
What was the role of Received Pronunciation in the British Empire?
Gained importance in the administration of the growing British Empire.
What are progressive constructions in Late Modern English?
Examples include ‘Stop being silly!’ and ‘The cake is being baked.’
What trend was observed regarding the use of phrasal verbs during Late Modern English?
Dramatic increase in the number of phrasal verbs.
What grammatical change occurred regarding the subjunctive mood in Late Modern English?
Decline in the use of the subjunctive, typically replaced by modal auxiliaries.
What are quotative constructions and give an example?
Quotative constructions with ‘go’ and ‘be like’, e.g., ‘And then she goes, “Why don’t you give me a hand?”’
What does the term ‘democratisation’ refer to in language use?
Changes in expressions that make direct reference to social reality and power imbalances.
What is textual/stylistic democratisation?
Concerns the spreading of certain linguistic forms to formerly inappropriate contexts.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is associated with the BBC but is changing.
Received Pronunciation (RP)
True or False: Classic native speakers of English are currently in the majority.
False
What are some changes observed in Present-day English (1900-) regarding pronouns?
Use of third-person plural pronouns with singular indefinite or generic subjects.
What phenomenon is considered one of the most important modern developments of English?
The spread of English across the world.
How has globalisation and the Internet affected English?
Growing importance of social media may affect traditional hubs of English and generate new supra-national genres.
What is a key feature of pluricentricity in Present-day English?
New norms may emerge and strengthen in different regions.
