Theories of Language Change Flashcards
Who came up with the Cultural Transmission Theory?
Charles F. Hockett
What is the main idea of the Cultural Transmission Theory?
Language is passed down from one generation to the next through social interactions and learning; there is also the idea that language is the primary means of sharing culture
What are the ways that language is thought to be transmitted in the Cultural Transmission Theory?
Socialisation: The lifelong process where individuals learn and internalize cultural norms and values.
Imitation: Learning by observing and mimicking others’ behaviors and practices
Horizontal Transmission: Peer to peer
Vertical Transmission: Parent to child
Oblique Transmission: Older generation to younger, outside the family
Who came up with the Functional Theory?
Michael Halliday
What is the main idea of the Functional Theory?
Language is developed in order to fulfill the purposes and functions society needs from it: social & economic changes, developing sense of identity, need for efficiency & speed.
What are the 7 functions of language proposed in the Functional Theory?
Instrumental
Regulatory
Interactive
Personal
Heuristic
Representational
Imaginative
Who came up with the functional theory of language?
Michael Halliday
What does the functional theory of language state the three key functions of language are?
- Ideational function - how we convey ideas and information (describe a place, how something works)
- Interpersonal function - how we use language to interact with others (requests, orders, emotions)
- Textual function - how we organise language so it makes sense and flows well (structure a report, or story)
What is the main idea of the functional theory of language?
the language we use adapts depending on what we’re trying to achieve in a given situation
Who came up with the progress or decay theory of language change?
Jean Aitchinson
What is the main idea of the progress or decay theory of language change?
there are two views towards language change: progress (language is changing positively) and decay (language is changing negatively), it emphasises that these views are entirely subjective
What are the three analogies of the progress or decay theory of language change?
- Damp spoon analogy - language change is likened to a damp spoon placed in a sugar bowl; just as a damp spoon contaminates the sugar and makes it go bad, so language change is seen as something undesirable that “contaminates” or “degrades” the purity of language
- Crumbling castle analogy - language change is likened to the gradual decay of a crumbling castle; just as a castle that is left to decay will lose its grandeur and structural integrity, so language change is seen as a decline from an idealised, once-perfect state
- Infectious disease analogy - language change is likened to an infectious disease spreading through a population; just as diseases spread and cause harm, so language change is seen as spreading undesirable elements that can corrupt the language
Who came up with the wave model of language change?
Johannes Schmidt
What is the main idea of the wave model of language change? [4]
- Initial Change: Imagine a drop of water creating a ripple in a pond. Similarly, a change in language (like a new way of speaking or a new word) starts in a specific place or among a particular group of people.
- Spreading Out: Just like the ripples spread out from where the drop landed, the language change gradually spreads outward from its origin. It can reach other areas and groups over time.
- Gradual Adoption: Not everyone adopts the change at once. Some people might adopt the change quickly, while others might do so more slowly, or not at all. This creates a pattern where the change becomes more common as it spreads further from the center.
- Variation in Adoption: The change might look different in different places or among different groups. This means that the way people use the new change can vary, just like ripples in a pond can look different depending on where they are.
What are the pros and cons of the wave model of language change?
Pros:
- illustrates spread over time
- accounts for geographic variation
- highlights incremental adoption
Cons:
- over-simplification
- lack of focus on social factors
- doesn’t account for reversals
- limited to specific changes
Who came up with the S-curve model of language change?
Wei-Heng Chen
What is the main idea of the S-curve model of language change? [4]
- Initial Stage (Innovation): The change begins slowly, often within a small, innovative group. This stage is marked by a slow uptake of the new feature.
- Acceleration Stage: As the change gains acceptance and becomes more widespread, the rate of adoption increases sharply. This represents the rapid spread of the change through the community.
- Maturity Stage: The change eventually reaches a point of saturation where the rate of new adoption slows down and stabilizes. The feature becomes established and is widely used.
- Decline Stage (if applicable): In some cases, the change may reach a point where it declines in use or is replaced by another change. This stage is not always present but is a consideration in Chen’s model.
What are the pros and cons of the S-curve model of language change?
Pros:
- detailed stages
- predictive power
- adaptability
- inclusion of decline stage
Cons:
- over-simplification
- cultural and social factors
- not always linear
- data-dependent
