Evaluation of Theories of Language Change

ANALYSIS/EVALUATION OF THEORIES OF LANGUAGE CHANGE - Section 7.4 A2 ENGLISH LANGUAGE THEORIES Why does Language change? Evidence to support theory Further examples Strengths/Weaknesses Functional theory Developed by Hallidaylanguage is used as a tool for evolving economic + social functions. Lexus is invented/adapted for new, relevant technological developments. Words shorten as needs for fast communication are necessary. Words move in/out due to change in society. The words vinyl and chronometer are NOT used today. Neologisms/broadened words such as avatar, troll and hashtag due to social media. Obsolete words like britches, icebox, gallivant and neologisms used in today’s society due to social changes/events such as freegan and permaculture. S: makes a lot of sense due to the correlation between a changing society = changing vocabulary to fit the new developments. Developed by various theorists, psychologists and sociologists- language is passed on from generations through socialization (cultural learning). A system of symbols used to share cultural ideas. Language changes when individuals/groups feel a benefit in change (for status/belonging). Non-PC, outdated or old fashioned sayings have moved out of lexis and new ones are created/used frequently because others in society are using them as well. Such as: be still my heart and jew down. Older generations may enforce the use of “Ma’am/Sir”, socializing the norm of respect for elders (vertical transmission). Developed by Hockettlanguage develops and changes randomly. Reflects the uneven use of spoken language. Users pronounce words differently and this spreads until it becomes a desirable form of speech. The spread of Estuary English: originates in London and now found in many areas of the English-speaking world. Hockett states human error can change or influence language change. The word like has been used as a comparison between two things- now it is used globally as a filler in spoken discourse. William Labov studied Jewish communities in New York- he concluded with the idea that pronunciation of words changed slightly in those communities. Cultural Transmission theory Random Fluctuation theory Substratum theory Developed by various theorists (e.g William Labov)- language change happens because of globalization (varieties of English influencing each other). Other shortened words/acronyms used like DVD, PDF and FOMO. Peers in the same generation will horizontally transmit language such as teenagers sharing slang, making certain words popular in their speech (e.g cap, bet, basic, etc). W: does not account for all language change as it focuses on lexical change only. S: explains the use of language other than for communication (socialization). W: does not take into consideration all learning such as trial/error. S: creates a relationship between changing language and the users of spoken language. Predictive text messaging. W: changes are too similar to be random. S: creates a relationship between the effect of global media that influences different areas. W: Cannot be the sole reason for language change (society development is also key). Theory of Lexical Gaps Wave Model Tree Model S-Curve Model Correlates with Functional Theory- there is a certain need for new lexis. A sequence of sound combinations form new words (and follow a recognizable sound pattern). Individuals look for innovation and a collection of neologisms (loanwords/further modified words with prefixes/suffixes). Recognizable sound patterns in prefixes and suffixes are used for several words such as -dis in words like disrespect, disregard and disinterest. Consonant cluster -spr in words such as sprain, spring, spree, spray, etc. Developed by Johannes Schmidt- language evolves from the center and ripples out, becoming weaker or slower to adopt as it moves away from the original place (geographically speaking). Geographically, an accent will be stronger in the original place- such as the New York accent and slang; it has slightly moved towards other places in America. Accents in the UK now blend due to geographical movement such as a rise in travel. They can be heard in other parts close to the original place. Language can be traced back to a parent language (protolanguage/language family). It changes by splitting from a common protolanguage and separating into branches. Latin is the protolanguage of many Romance languages: branches separated into French, Italian, Spanish and Romanian. Developed by Chen- change starts in a limited way before getting faster as more users adopt the change. Language changes when people are willing to welcome new The percentage of people that used the word you instead of ye is shown in the graph (P239), accelerating slowly and then much faster starting at the 1520s. Brand names such as Tylenol, Kleenex and Bandaid. S: explains the use of borrowed words as well as those that broadened in meaning (need for new lexis). W: like Functional Theory, does not account for other areas of change other than lexical. S: explains how geographical location makes language weaker and how language has the possibility of travelling. W: does not consider the global travel of language due to mass media and the internet (says change happens slowly whereas the internet makes it go fast and at a global level). Proto-German is the parent language that resulted in the creation of English, German, Dutch, etc. S: explains the link between older languages and shows a relationship between languages that come from the same protolanguage. W: does not explain the process of pidgin and creole languages. Online n-gram shows that the saying piece of cake was less popular, then began to become more popular during the 1980s until it’s max. popularity in the early S: explains the idea that words become more/less popular. W: information such as the reason/development that forms (lexical and syntactical changes). Unfolding of Language Guy Deutscher states that language changes due to minds desiring order and the need for regularity in language (this is why expected sound patterns are used). Speakers use shortcuts which show change as well as use neologisms to be expressive, broaden meaning and be innovative. His book mentions examples such as, the plural of book used to be beek before it changed to books in the 13th century due to rules of regulating plurals/singulars. 2000s. (S-curve shows progression) made words more popular cannot be inferred by s-curve graphs. Words used to be expressive: a plain no is deemed weak to convey emotion- this has changed into sayings like not at all, not a bit, by no means, etc. S: explains that neologisms are created using patterns of sounds (why words are similar to each other). W: does not explain why some neologisms are completely new and random (do not follow a pattern, e.g avatar).