Language Change Flashcards
Nathaniel bailey on language change
Complied a more complete universal etymological English dictionary than any extant 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
Samuel Johnson
Between 1747 and 1755 Johnson wrote perhaps his best known work a dictionary of the English language
Robert Lowth
Published a short introduction to English grammar in 1762
Jean aitchison model
Potential, diffusion, implementation and codification model
Potential-there is an internal weakness or external pressure for a particular change
Diffusion- the change starts to spread through the population
Implementation-people start using the variant- is it incorporated into people’s idiolect- group/local language
Codification model- written down and subsequently put into the dictionary and accepted officially
Bailey wave model
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
E.g. 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
Hockett random fluctuation theory?
‘Fashion in language are as unpredictable as fashion in clothes’
Change occurs due to the unstable nature of language itself
Change that occur within the language do so to the constant changing context of the language itself and its users
Functional theory halliday
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 manifest change creating new words and new usages and then discarding them as they strive for social identity and or personal expression
Sapir whorf linguistic determinism
A persons language reflects their way of thinking e..g someone who uses slurs could be said to be using language that reflects their prejudice towards immigrants
Determinism- is the idea that if people can be persuaded not to use slurs but new ones they can determine a new way of thinking and this forms the basis of political correctness is formed
John honey
Believes the standards of English language are falling
Chen s curve model
Lanuagueg change can occur at a slow pace creating the initial of the s and then increases speed as it becomes more common and accepted into the language this then can slow down again and level out once it has fully intergrated into the language and is widely used
