Language Change theories Flashcards
What did crispin thurlow do and find?
- looked at older teenagers use of mobile phone texting
- use interviews and 544 participants text messages
- 82% used abbreviations but only used in less than 20% of overall text message content
- apostrophes included in 544 messages
- 55% used auto correct
What were Mackinnons categories of attitudes people have towards language use?
- we may see language as correct or incorrect
- we may judge some language examples to be pleasant or ugly
- may judge it to be socially un/ acceptable
What did Justyna Robinsons “gay talk” article find?
Gay as a reference of “happy” is now becoming dated. The term gay is now being used in a derogatory term to describe bad things instead of homosexual people
What did john Humphreys say?
“Grotesque abbreviations”
Abbreviations are ambiguous - lol
What did donald mackinnon say?
He says that the use of abbreviations depends on the context and therefore can be used in informal communication
What is Chens s curve model?
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 slow down again and level out once it has fully interpreted into the language and is widely used.
Describe Aitchison’s potential and diffusion model
Potential - there is an internal weakness or an external pressure for a particular change - social pressures to introduce MX
Diffusion - the change starts to spread through the population - the royal bank of Scotland was first to introduce MX
What is the theory of lexical gaps?
This theory suggests that there is a logical reason to create words to fill a gap
What is the functional theory?
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 and are replaced with new words or initialisms
What are Aitchison’s parodies of prescriptivism?
Damp spoon parody - the idea of laziness, you do not do things properly it’s distasteful
Crumbling castle parody - language was perfect in the past, now deteriorated and we have to look after it so it doesn’t get worse
Infectious disease parody - we catch bad usage of language from other people and it spreads
What is reflectionism in language ?
A persons language reflects their way of thinking
What is determinism of language?
Idea that if original one can be persuaded not to use terms but instead Ines that are seen as more acceptable this can determine a new way of thinking and this helps form basis of political correctness
