Language Is Decaying?

Question 1

For:

Answer 1

Hockett’s Random Fluctuation theory, substratum theory then prescriptivists and grammarians such as Johnson 1775, Lowth, Murray and Swift but Priestley

Question 2

Against

Answer 2

Halliday’s Functional theory, lexical gaps theory, technology neologisms acronyms initialisms’next stage in Eng evolution’ Crystal, Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Thomson . Need words/ structures to articulate concepts. The way humans speak governs view of reality & determines perception of world e.g. Hopi different ideas of time, Nasche ‘most swarmeth with the single money of monasyllables’

Question 3

Random fluctuation theory – Charles Hockett 1958:

Answer 3

The theory suggests that changes that occur within the language do so to the constant changing context of the language itself and its users. ‘Owned’ to ‘pwned’ Suggesting that language change occurs due to the unstable nature of language itself. language changes owing to its instability, because of random errors and events within the language system, as a response of the ever changing context of language use and its users.