Language Change Terminology (A01)

Question 1

Prescriptivist & descriptivism

Answer 1

Two distinct attitudes to how language should be utilised- prescribing rules and describing and noting change

Question 2

Declinism

Answer 2

A view that advocating language is somehow being destroyed and moving away from its “golden age”

Question 3

Conservatism

Answer 3

A socio-political view advocating traditional values such as order, rules and structure.

Question 4

Metaphor

Answer 4

Mapping from one domain to another to describe something.

Question 5

Vocal fry

Answer 5

Articulating a vowel sound with a croaky voice.

Question 6

Rising intonation

Answer 6

Phenomenon whereby a statement is made to sound inquisitive with a rising tone at its close.

Question 7

Computer mediated communication

Answer 7

Any communication made possible by computerisation and technology.

Question 8

Speech community

Answer 8

A variety of language spoken by any defined geographical or social group.

Question 9

Marking

Answer 9

When a language marks for masculine or feminine word such as French- English lost this largely when the vikings arrived.

Question 10

Triglosslia

Answer 10

Term describing the three languages we have in English today Germanic language, French and Latin.

Question 11

Standardisation

Answer 11

The process by which formal ‘rules’ of a language such as spelling and grammar are agreed upon.

Question 12

Linguistic imperialism

Answer 12

A term describing the way which language is imposed on other speakers- promoting a hierarchy of languages.