Language Change Flashcards
1
Q
Dictionary
Nathaniel Bailey
2
A
- Compiled a more complete universal etymological English dictionary than any extent supposed to have been published in 1721.
- This was a great improvement on all previous attempts, and formed the basis of Johnson’s work. Idea of spelling ‘mistake’ still not evident.
2
Q
Dictionary
Samuel Johnson
1
A
Between 1747 and 1755, Johnson wrote perhaps his best-known work A Dictionary of the English Language.
3
Q
Grammar
Robert Lowth
1
A
- Published: A Short Introduction to English Grammar in 1762.
4
Q
PDICM
Jean Aitchinson
5
A
- Potential, Diffusion, Implementation & Codification Model.
- Potential: there is an internal weakness or an external pressure for a particular change.
- Diffusion: the change starts to spread through the population.
- Implementation: people start using the variant - it is incorporated into people’s idiolect - group/local languages.
- Codification Model: written down and subsequently put into the dictionary and accepted officially.
5
Q
Codification Model:
1
A
Written down and subsequently put into the dictionary and accepted officially.
6
Q
Implementation:
1
A
People start using the variant - it is incorporated into people’s idiolect - group/local languages.
7
Q
Diffusion:
1
A
Change starts to spread through the population.
8
Q
Potential:
1
A
There is an internal weakness or an external pressure for a particular change.
9
Q
Errors
Charles Hockett, Random Fluctuation (1958)
5
A
- Fashions in language are as unpredictable as fashions in clothes’
- Charles Hockett devised a theory that put significance on random errors and events as having an influence on language change.
- Suggesting that language change occurs due to the unstable nature of language itself.
- The theory suggests that changes that occur within the language do so to the constant changing context of the language itself and its users.
- An example of this as mentioned in the AQA English Language A textbook is that the word book’ became a replacement for the word ‘cool’ due to mobile phone predictive text corrections, which is a random way for a word to have changed usage.
10
Q
Distance
Bailey, Wave Model (1973)
3
A
- Bailey suggested that geographical distance could have an effect on language change.
- Just as someone who is close to the epicentre of an earthquake will feel the tremors, a person or group close to the epicentre of a language change will pick it up whereas a person or group further away from the centre of change is less likely to adopt it.
- For example, a word adapted or adopted by multicultural youths in London is unlikely to affect white middle class speakers in Edinburgh, as they are removed from the epicentre both culturally and socially.
11
Q
Adaptation/Evolution
Functional Theory
A
- This theory suggests that language always changes and adapts to the needs of its users.
- Changes in technology and industry often fuel the need for new words. Words fall out of usage, such as ‘vinyl’ for records and are replaced by initialisms such as MP3.
- Colloquialisms and slang also manifests changes, creating new words or new usages and then discarding them as they strive for social identity and/or personal/ group expression.
12
Q
Reflection, Prejudice, PC
Sapir-Whorf, Linguistic Determinism
3
A
- Reflectionism in language is based on the theory that a person’s language reflects their way of thinking, so someone who uses derogatory slurs such as ‘Paki’, could be said to be using language that reflects their prejudice towards immigrants.
- Determinism is based on the idea that if people can be persuaded not to use such terms, but ones that are seen as more acceptable i.e. exchanging ‘Paki’ for ‘Asian’ can determine a new way of thinking, and this forms the basis on which political correctness is formed.
- Words such as ‘nigger’ and ‘pikey’ seen as slurs are exchanged for words with more positive connotations such as ‘African-American’ or ‘Gypsy/Romany and are therefore perceived as being less offensive in their usage, and to those ethnic minorities they are being used to represent.
13
Q
Standards
John Honey
2
A
- Believes that the standards of the English language are falling.
- John Honey states that the grammar he believes should be taught is that of ‘standard English’ and he claims that ‘standard English’ is”…the language in which this book is written, which is essentially the same form of English used in books and newspapers…”
14
Q
Rate of change, natural
Chen, The S Curve Model (1968 & 1972)
4
A
- The S Curve model is based on the idea that language change can occur at a slow pace creating the initial curve of the ‘S’ and then increases speed as it becomes more common and accepted into the language.
- This can then slow down and again and level out once it has fully integrated into the language and is widely used.
- This model is based on Chen who asserted that users would pick up a language change at a certain rate before spreading into wider language usage and then slowing.
- This change can be measured on a chart and will produce a curve resembling the letter ‘s.
15
Q
ascertaining, prescriptivist
Jonathan Swift (1712)
1
A
- Wrote a ‘proposal for correcting, improving and ascertaining the English tongue.
16
Q
Acronomy
1
A
- Abbreviation using the first letter of a group of words and pronounced as a single word. eg OPEC, NASA, RAM.
17
Q
Diachronic
1
A
- Study of history and language.
18
Q
Sychronic
1
A
- Study of language at a particular moment in time.
19
Q
Lexical Diffusion
1
A
- The stage in which use of words spreads.
20
Q
Pejoration
2
A
- When a word starts of as neutral
but gains negative meaning over time. - Gay used to mean happy but gained derogatory connotations.
21
Q
Leakage
2
A
- When words serve multiple uses and
meanings. - e.g ‘like’
‘He was , like, I like fish…’
22
Q
Semantic shift
2
A
- Change in one of the meanings of words.
- e.g Awful used to mean full-of-awe.
23
Q
Implementation word
1
A
- First stage of acceptance of a word being used.
24
Q
Bleaching
2
A
- The loss or reduction of meaning in a word as a result of semantic change.
- Reduction of a words intensity. ‘I literally died laughing.’
25
Q
Composites
2
A
- Something that is constructed of various parts.
- Originates from Latin for ‘putting together’ and can be used as a noun or an adjective * examples: Eco - System.
26
Q
Potential
2
A
- Refers to a situation in which there is need for a new word.
- Such needs may arise due to practical, social reasons or because ideas change.
