language change theories and concepts Flashcards
1
Q
What is language reflectionism
A
- where language reflects the needs, views and opinions of its users
- to change language, you need to change attitudes
2
Q
What is language determinism
A
- Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
- Language controls our perceptions of reality - influencing us to think in certain ways
- to change attitudes, you need to change language
3
Q
What is linguistic relativity
A
- language exerts a powerful influence over how we think and behave
- language affects attitudes and vice-versa
4
Q
How is the term ‘coloured’ both an example of language reflectionism and determinism
A
- it’s seen as deterministic, since it was a term associated w/ segregation in America and was used as a slur towards black people specifically (because they didn’t see their skin colour as normal)
- it’s seen as reflectionistic as by using the term ‘coloured’ you’re aligning yourself w/ the views of that time (in regards to black people)
5
Q
What is the functional theory [Michael Halliday]
A
- Is the idea that language changes to adapt to the needs of the user and if this idea is extended, then it adapts to changing needs in wider society
- e.g. coining new terms to identify new technology CDs, MP3s, streaming etc.
6
Q
what is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
[linguistic relativity]
A
- Sapir – idea that lang. is essential to understanding one’s world view and that a difference in lang. implies a difference in social reality
- Whorf – formulation of ideas and thoughts isn’t a rational dependent process, but is determined by particular grammar and vocab of lang. in which these ideas are expressed (world around is organised and made sense of by us through lang.)
7
Q
What is Steven Pinker’s theory
A
- proposed that all individuals are first capable of a ‘universal mentalese,’ where all thought is composed prior to its linguistic form
- language allows us to articulate these already existing thoughts into words and linguistic concepts
8
Q
Michael Halliday
[language and social structure]
A
- linguistic structure is the realisation of social structure
- stands as a metaphor for society, lang. has the property of not only transmitting the social order, but also maintain and potentially modifying it
9
Q
what is reappropriation/ reclamation
A
- a word that was at one time pejorative, but has been brought back into acceptable usage
- usually starting within the communities that experienced oppression under that word
e. g. queer, n-word
10
Q
what is the euphemism treadmill
A
- a euphemism may devolve into a taboo word through semantic change (word still attaches those negative attitudes)
e. g. toilet replacing house of office and retarded replacing idiot/ imbicle
11
Q
what is the dysphemism treadmill
A
- notions of profanity, obscenity and others words once considered offensive are later described as ‘objectionable’ and ‘questionable’ and they may reach near - or outright acceptability
- e.g. sucks/ that sucks is shorthand for that sucks dicks – developed from being extremely vulgar to mainstream slang
12
Q
what is gate-keeping
A
- activity of controlling and limiting general access to something
13
Q
what is benign prescriptivism/ political correctness
A
- the avoidance of forms of expression or action that are perceived to exclude, marginalise, or insult groups of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against
14
Q
what is verbal hygiene
[Deborah Cameron]
A
- it refers to when ‘people attempt to ‘clean up’ lang. and make its structure or its use conform more closely to their ideals of beauty, truth, efficiency, logic, correctness and civility
- hides a range of deeper social, moral and political anxieties
- consequence of the fact that humans don’t just use lang. but also observe and reflect on the lang. they use
15
Q
Freeborn – prescriptivist
A
- incorrectness views: all accents are incorrect compared to SE and RP
Ugliness view: some accents don’t sound nice
Impreciseness: some accents are lazy like ‘Estuary English’ because sounds have changed – links the damp spoon metaphor
