Language Change Flashcards
Synchronic variation
Variation at any given time (e.g. if things are synchronous, they are happening at the same time)
Diachronic variation
Variation over time
Diachronic variation
Variation over time
Borrowings
Words from other languages are incorporated into English e.g. deja vu
Compounds
New words are made by joining two words together e.g. handbag
Blends
New words are made by blending other words together e.g. bromance
Acronyms
Acronyms become words through common usage e.g. phone
Initialisms
Phrases can become so commonly used that they become lexicalized e.g. FYI, FOMO
Word class changes
New meanings are formed when words were used in different word classes
Morphology
New words are formed when prefixes or suffixes are added to existing words e.g. unbothered
Coinages
Completely invented new words (often slang)
Abbreviations
Words getting shortened e.g. obvs, litch
Semantic change (or shift)
The general term for how words change their meanings. This can happen when words pick up new meanings (especially among the young), and the old meanings gradually drop away as the elder die e.g. gay
Amelioration
This is the process of semantic change whereby a word develops more positive connotations over time e.g. nice originally meant ignorant
Pejoration
This is the opposite of amelioration. When this happens, words take on a more negative meaning
