Lexical Change

Question 1

Neologisms

Answer 1

New words enter our language to fill lexical gaps (e.g. cliché)

Question 2

Archaisms

Answer 2

Words that cease to be used (e.g. cassette)

Question 3

Halliday’s Functional Theory

Answer 3

Language changes and adspts according to the needs of its users (e.g. cassette –> CD)

Question 4

Hockett’s Random Fluctuation Theory

Answer 4

Random mistakes and events lead to language change (e.g. COVID pandemic)

Question 5

Lexical Gaps

Answer 5

When a word that could exist, doesn’t

Question 6

Substratum Theory

Answer 6

The English language changes through contact with other languages (e.g. through invasions/trade or immigration)

Question 7

2015 Word of the Year (Oxford Dictionary)

Answer 7

😂

Question 8

Inkhorn Controversy 16th C

Answer 8

Concern with language not being pure (ironic use from Cheek as ‘pure’ derived from Latin)

Question 9

Jonathan Swift 17th C

Answer 9

Proposed experts like Acadmie de Francaise and said that language was ‘extremely imperfect’ and experiencing ‘daily corruptions’

Question 10

David Crystal on Language Change

Answer 10

It’s ‘expressive development’, not deterioration