james milroy's 'linguistic variation and change' (1992)

Question 1

does James Milroy believe language can be controlled?

Answer 1

no: he emphasises the significance of language variation and diversity, arguing that there is no single “correct” way to use language, language should be used freely.

Question 2

(1) what did sociolinguist milroy look at in his book?

Answer 2

in his book ‘linguistic variation and change’ (1992), he looked at whether there was once a Golden Age within spoken and written language, since linguists have commented that there was a time that both spoken and written language was perfect and unmistakeable.

Question 3

(2) what did milroy argue/how does he challenge the golden age concept?

Answer 3

• he strongly argued against the concept of a ‘golden age’ of language and that there has never been such a time of period of language excellence.
• he contends that the notion of a past period when language was purer or more perfect is a myth.

Question 4

(3) what evidence does milroy provide about the 19th/18th century? (“perfect past”)

Answer 4

• in the 18th century as well as the 19th century, 40% of bride and grooms couldn’t write their own name.
• this disapproves any belief of perfect reading and writing in that time.

Question 5

(4) no evidence for the perfect past:

Answer 5

• he argues that there is no concrete evidence which suggests we are a seeing a decline of language use, language is dynamic and is always subject to change.

Question 6

(5) literacy rates and language standards:

Answer 6

he points out that literacy rates have actually improved over time, contradicting the idea of decline in language standards.

Question 7

(6) how does milroy provide evidence for literacy rates and language standards?

Answer 7

• uses evidence that generally children learn to read and write at school.
• they don’t learn to speak at school. therefore, for all we know, speech amongst children today is something of the parent’s issue in raising their child, not of their education.

Question 8

(7) language variation and diversity:

Answer 8

he emphasises the significance of language variation and diversity, arguing that there is no single “correct” way to use language.

Question 9

(8) who could we use to support milroy?

Answer 9

jean aitcheson: she also feels language is continually developing and is not deteriorating because of generational change.