Language Change: How does Language Change?

Question 1

Jean Aitchison says that change can takes place in 4 stages. What are these?

Answer 1

1. First there needs to be potential for change to happen.
2. Implementation. It needs to be made more common by using it every day.

3 Diffusion. The choice needs to spread from its origin. This can occur through various way such as technology, talking with other people and etcs. These are called vehicles of spread’

4. Lastly, codification which takes place as the change is made official by dictionaries. A funny example is ‘selfie’.

Question 2

So how can we demonstrate the change happen? (1)

Answer 2

Through the S-curve theory by Chen & Bailey. We can conclude from the graph that as time passes the usage intake too eventually hitting a plateau. Depending on factors this word may decrease in usage.

Question 3

Describe the Wave (second one) theory? (2)

Answer 3

Using the metaphor of a ‘wave’ and comparing it the initial change to a pebble being dropped into a pond (aka the epicentre of you acquiring the change) at first the waves are strong but as you move out, they become weaker. The closer you are to this epic centre the more likely you are to acquire this change, the further away you are the less… (There is a geographical space and a social space.)

Question 4

Give me an example of Potential for change?

Answer 4

Through mitigating certain letters on the keyboard such as ‘pwn’ instead of ‘pawned’ that was created during gaming contexts or spelling errors such as ‘book meaning cool’

Question 5

Give me an example of Implementation?

Answer 5

Examples: By exchanging it with other friends, colleagues tc. Via social media. Within the media such as news. Adding it into your vernacular.

Question 6

Give an example of Diffusion for change?

Answer 6

Through vehicles of spead such as technology, talking with other people.

Question 7

Give me an example of a word that has been codfiied?

Answer 7

‘Selfie’ that was named the word of 2013 by Oxford Dictionaries. Due to it’s widespread use. Can be found in crevices of the internet.

Question 8

What can we evaulate from the S-curve theory?

Answer 8

This explains how words are able to have their shell life before dying out or being preserved through codification. However it doesn’t’ explain how words they reached by people.

Question 9

What can we evaulate from the Wave theory?

Answer 9

Effective example which shows the likeliness of acquiring the language change. We can say that a lot factors can determine if you will reach the language change or not.

Socially, you have to be in the social space to be able to pick up a language change. It’s often difficult through spaces like these as social media is uncontrollable and you’re not always there.