Grammatical Change

Question 1

Robert Lowth (1762)

Answer 1

Prescriptivist - grounded grammar rules in Latin (change from above)

• ‘Thou’ shouldn’t be used
• Regularisation between who and whom
• stop double negation and comparison

Question 2

Double negations

Answer 2

Used to be common

Question 3

How has syntax simplified?

Answer 3

• there used to be many subordinate clauses

- longer sentences were used

Question 4

How have word orders changed?

Answer 4

• Increased auxiliary verbs

- Interrogatives used to start with verbs

Question 5

Contractions

Answer 5

Have come in and out of fashion (e.g. twas)

Question 6

Changes in word functions

Answer 6

Verbs previously used as nouns, americanisms, contemporary english

Question 7

Lost superlatives

Answer 7

Properest is now most proper

Question 8

Multiple comparatives

Answer 8

Double comparatives used in 19th century

Question 9

Queens English Society

Answer 9

Heavily against double negatives and anything against ‘perfect’ english

Question 10

Arguments supporting double negatives

Answer 10

English isn’t maths anyone can understand, used a lot in 18th century, regional dialedts symbolisr linguistic identity.

Question 11

Rees Mogg

Answer 11

Trying to enforce language from the past. Many old people don’t like language change