Language Change Theories

Question 1

Functional Theory

Answer 1

This is the theory that language changes because Society changes too.

Question 2

David Crystal

Answer 2

‘All living languages change. They have to. Languages have no existence apart from the people who use them. And because people are changing all the time, their language changes too”
- Language changes when those who use it change

Question 3

S-curve pattern of change

Answer 3

This is when a new word, phrase or way of speaking gradually increases in use before taking off.

Question 4

Standardisation of Language

Answer 4

This is where language becomes standard in use and becomes a common code.

Question 5

Samuel Johnson

Answer 5

Published the Dictionary of English language in 1755.

- This attempted to standardise the English language.

Question 6

William Caxton

Answer 6

In 1476 the printing press was brought to England.
- This began the standardising process however was difficult as there was no widespread standard way of spelling or punctuation.

Question 7

Great Vowel Shift

Answer 7

1500-1800 - The G.V.S occured where vowel sounds began to be pronounced differently.

Question 8

Impact of the Renaissance and Shakespeare

Answer 8

During the Renaissance, vocabulary developed as many words were borrowed from other languages to describe new processes in Science, Art and Medicine

• Shakespeare created many new neologisms through his writing and these became standard in the English Language.

Question 9

Authorised Version of the Bible ( King James Bible )

Answer 9

This new publication in 1611 allowed the church a standard form of language and gave the population exposure to formalised writing styles.

Question 10

Noah Webster and the American Dictionary

Answer 10

This produced ‘Americanisms’ which caused controversy as new ways of spelling were used.

Question 11

Education Changed (Butler Education Act)

Answer 11

In 1944 a law was passed that gave compulsory education to all for free until the age of 15. This enabled working-class children to learn the English language and increased the spread of literacy across the country.

Question 12

Loan Words

Answer 12

These are words borrowed from other languages especially Latin and French.

Question 13

French Invasion

Answer 13

After the French invasion the language changed.

- U and V became interchangeable. For example Haue for Have

Question 14

Compounding of words

Answer 14

During the Middle English period, compounding became more prevelant.
- New compounds and suffixes began to be used for example the suffix ER was more widely used.

Question 15

Capitalisation in the 17th Century

Answer 15

Capitalisation became widely used for names, important common nouns and to highlight the beginning of sentences.

Question 16

Prescriptive Vs Descriptive

Answer 16

There were two schools of thought that emerged in the 18th century.

• Prescriptivism: Set out standard rules about how language should be used
• Descriptive: Analysing how language is used by groups of people

Question 17

Crumbling Castle model

Answer 17

Those with this view of language looked upon English as a language that had reached a peak of perfection, from which it was now in decline.

Question 18

Infectious Disease Model

Answer 18

suggests the view that many prescriptivists view language change as something harmful that can be transmitted unwittingly from one person to another. Aitchison counters this with the idea that many changes are deliberately picked up by users who make choices over what they want to say and write.