Evidence to show ideas of Language Decay through History

Question 1

What did Geoffrey Chaucer say was happening to language in the 14th century?

Answer 1

That it was changing

Question 2

What did the writer of the 1755 Dictionary state?

Answer 2

It was natural for languages to get worse over time

Question 3

What is important about why the 1755 Dictionary was made?

Answer 3

It was an attempt to preserve all words used in society

Question 4

What did someone write to the Lord Treasurer in 1712?

Answer 4

For an academy to be set up to regulate language use

Question 5

Why does Aitchison say it was understandable for some to be worried about language change in the 18th century?

Answer 5

There was a shift from using more Latin words occurring

Question 6

Name a Bishop in London who heavily opposed double negatives in the 1700s

Answer 6

Robert Lowth

Question 7

What did people think about Lowth’s ideas?

Answer 7

They thought they had been inspired by God so stopped using double negatives

Question 8

What still included double negatives during the ban on them in the 1700s?

Answer 8

Songs

Question 9

What was published in 1880?

Answer 9

A guidebook on how to act correctly in society

Question 10

Name one of the language restrictions in the 1880 guidebook

Answer 10

Not being allowed to call gentlemen “gents”

Question 11

What was the true purpose of the 1880 guidebook?

Answer 11

To make people insecure