Orthographical change Flashcards
Orthography
Spelling and punctuation
Reasons for abolishing apostrophe (5)
- Avoids confusion over if they should be used or not
- Rarely make a semantic difference
- Wasteful
- Current technology makes them confusing
- Tool of snobbery
Reasons for keeping the apostrophe (3)
To get rid of it would be an example of ‘dumbing down’
Would distress many citizens if abolished
Teaches kids correct grammar and punctuation
Standardisation
Process of making language more uniformed
Grammarians
People who study and write about grammar (producing grammar rules books)
Lexicographer
Person who complied dictionaries
Significant events of standardisation
- Cartons printing press (1476)
- Johnsons dictionary (1755)
- Webster’s American English reforms (late 1700s)
Caxton printing press (1476) features (4)
- First printing press
- Identical copies of texts could be produced
- Chose dialects being used in courts, universities and in London at time
- Feeling of prestige
Johnsons dictionary (1755) features (3)
- Not first but largest dictionary
- Provided standard reference point
- At first hoped to ‘fix; variation but realised language is ever changing and should describe not prescribe it
Websters American spelling reforms (late 1700s) features
Concerned with divide between spoken and written forms
Wanted a system of American spelling that was equal or superior to British English
Websters American spelling reforms (late 1700s) features
Concerned with divide between spoken and written forms
Wanted a system of American spelling that was equal or superior to British English
Orthographic changes in 1600s
- Upper case letters used for all nouns
- Upper case used at start of sentence
- used for emphasis by writer where appropriate
Orthographic changes in 1700s
Grammarians restricted their use
