Language Variation Over Time - Theory Flashcards
Prescriptivism Advantages
Structured, a standard mode of comparison, easier to learn, sense of nationality, prestigious.
Prescriptivism Disadvantages
Doesn’t accommodate change, no progression or natural evolution, no variation, lack of individuality.
Descriptivist Advantages
Organic, allows for change and expansion, realistic, follows dichromatic change.
Descriptivist Disadvantages
Lack of formality, less complex without rules, what is ‘correct’ language?
Damp Spoon Theory
Some say: Language changes because people are lazy, like leaving a damp spoon in a sugar bowl, vulgar and in bad taste.
Jean Aitchinson says: this view presupposes that some language is superior to others.
Crumbling Castle Theory
Some say: language is like a castle, it needs to be preserved.
Jean Aitchinson says: language is always changing.
Infectious Disease Theory
Some say: Bad language is like a disease that you pick up.
Jean Aitchinson says: you pick up language because you want to.
Social Decadence Theory
Believe language has decayed over time.
Natural Law Theory
Language develops in a way that is natural. Such as parents talking to children.
Internal vs External
Internal: Words change because of the dictionary, e.g affixation.
External: Language changes due to contextual factors.
Weaknesses: Language cannot decay because it is always developing. Different social groups are affected by language differently.
Sharon Goodman’s Theory of Informality
Language is becoming more informal in wider social context due to technology.
David Crystal Quality of E-Communication
Many e-mails are part of an exchange of communication in the way traditional letters are not.
E-mails have a sense of immediacy in reply.
King’s English Society
Mission to keep English the way it is, and that development of language is due to ignorance.
Michael Halliday Functional Language
Language changes to suit the needs of it user.
Martha’s Vineyard
Diverging language away from tourists.
