Language Change Flashcards
What are the 3 main topic of language change
- What has changed
- How has language changed
- Why has language changed
what is a Word formation process and example
neologism/coinage
Example - selfie, twitter
what is Blending and example
blending to words together like
Bromance, Jeggings, Sharknado
What is Obsolete
Example
Words that have stopped being used because there is no need for them anymore
Thou
Neologism
New words required to describe new inventions and ideas like twitter and Car
Diachronic
The way language has evolved through time
Compounding and Example
Two separate words being put together in a single word. Headache
What’s a Initialism
Example
First letter of each word. Phrase shortened down to letters
For example Sos or Sym
Functional theory of language change
Language changes to suit the need of tis users.
Saphir Whorf Hypothesis
States our language shapes our view of the world
What’s a reflectionists view ( Weak Saphir Whorf hypothesis
Language is a tool that reflects the needs view and opinions of its user. )For example seeing a advertisement poster and it could encourage us to buy the product but not force)
to change language you need to first change attitudes
Determinisms view
Language controls our perceptions of reality, influencing us to think in certain ways. to change attitudes you first need to change language.
Great vowel shift ( phonological change )
Example
Massive sound change affecting the long vowels of English during the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries.
Owl or expOsure
Phenomenon ( grammatical change )
A significant thing or event that happened.
Biggest change in language
English went from being a language where grammar is controlled by morphology to one where grammar is based in syntax of a sentence
Basically, order become more important than the inflection on words
