Grammatical Change Flashcards
What are examples of grammatical change?
- Double Negation
- Syntax has simplified
- Word order has changed
- Contractions
- Changes in word function
How has double negation changed?
Used to be common in English, now considered non-standard e.g. I don’t want nothing
How has syntax simplified?
Sentences used to contain a lot more subordinate clauses- present day English tends towards shorter sentences and fewer commas and semi-colons
How has word order changed?
Increased use of auxiliary verbs impacted the order e.g. Did you speak with him
Changes in word function:
Noun becoming verbs e.g. Google went from a noun to a verb
Lost Superlatives
Superlatives such as ‘properest’ were grammatically acceptable in the C19th
Who was Robert Lowth? (1762)
- Prescriptivist
- Wrote book called ‘A short introduction to English Grammar’
- Introduction to English Grammar’
- Grounded his grammar rules in Latin his grammar rules in Latin
What do the Queens English society aim to do?
It is a charity that aims to keep the English language safe from perceived declining standards- treats language as an object and needs to be ‘defended’
What are arguments against double negatives?
Many regional varieties use double negatives- important marker of linguistic variety
What were the rules in Robert Lowth’s book?
- Pronoun ‘thou’ no longer used
- Prepositions should be before noun
- Multiple negation and multiple comparatives are illogical
- Infinitive verb should not be split e.g. I had to finish my work instead of ‘I had to quickly finish’
