Language Change + Variation

Question 1

What do language change theories explain ?

Answer 1

How language changes (the process)

Question 2

What are the 5 language change theories?

Answer 2

S-curve, random fluctuation, functional theory, substratum theory, wave theory.

Question 3

What is substratum theory?

Answer 3

Looks at the way words from different forms of English changes how English is spoken and its semantics in the UK

Question 4

What is the example used for substratum theory?

Answer 4

Labov’s New York study. Looked at how 1st and 2nd generation Jewish immigrants said ‘coffee’. 1st gen used non- standard pronunciation. 2nd gen used more standard pronunciation to show they’re native to New York and reject their parent’s cultural identity