Over time, the English language has experienced significant changes which have brought it to where it is today. There is a wide gap between the spelling and pronunciation of lexemes in the past in comparison to today. A quote from Heraclitus states: “The only thing that is constant is change”. Change is inevitable and society must adapt linguistically to accommodate the changes. The phonetics of words changed over time as sounds are produced in different areas of the mouth. Semantic changes occur rapidly as lexemes describe modern changes. Social media forced to change to occur based on necessity.
Phonological changes occurred on a dramatic scale during events that took place in Middle English and Early Modern English. One of these was the Great Vowel Shift (1350-1700), which affected vowel pronunciation. Sounds were previously made from the lower and closer to the back region of the mouth to now being from the higher and more front region of the mouth, as shown in the following example. Middle English was written as’ fɛddә’, Early Modern English was written as ‘fɛd’, and Modern English was written as’ fed’. However, not all changes in vowels could be kept constant. This created discrepancies in certain vowel shifts that occurred due to the pronunciation and spelling in different areas, which lead to similarly spelled words having different sounds when spoken. Over time, this helped to alter how particular lexemes are spoken and pronounced.
The increasing use of taboos also changed how lexemes and themes related to words were used. It caused certain lexemes to be used less due to the negative connotations associated with them. In past generations, this was the case with profanity. It was widely detested and disapproved of those who used these terms, and they were regarded as having a lower status in society. In replacement of profane lexemes, society generated euphemisms. This helped to widen the range of terms available to communicate one’s emotions.
The definition of words gains new meanings over time. This is due to the circumstances in which terms are used. The dynamics that drive language have varied levels of change at different times. The functional shift of words has created space for semantic change to take place. Words that were previously used in noun form can now be used in adjective form. For example, the lexeme ‘sick’ has developed from a noun to an adjective. For Old English, the Oxford Dictionary defines ‘sick’ as ‘vomit’. However, in Modern English, the Oxford Dictionary states that ‘sick’ can be described as ‘cool’ or ‘awesome’. This shows how the semantics of a lexeme evolved and has distinct usages in different periods.
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The blending and borrowing of lexemes from other languages and cultures have also increased semantic change. This can be seen through words that are used as English lexemes but were borrowed from other countries to describe matters introduced from said countries. For example, using ‘sushi’ to describe a Japanese dish consisting of rolls of vinegar-flavored cold rice served with a garnish of vegetables, egg, or raw seafood. This demonstrates how the meanings of words take on new forms as they are used in different ways.
Social media influences changes in language through the ease of making changes. The shortening of lexical terms has allowed conversations to flow faster and more easily. Words that were used commonly in the past can very quickly become outdated. For example, previously, frustration was shown through simply stating that they are angry, or actively showing their anger through their actions. Today, frustration can be expressed online through a series of unintelligible letters strung together (i.e., fjkfdshkfhskfhd).
Social media also creates new lexemes based on the need to do so. Without these new terms, it would be impossible to describe what they were or the actions that are done from using these sources. ‘Catfish’ would not exist if people created fake social media accounts and targeted a specific victim. Taking a ‘selfie’ also would not exist if people didn't take self-portraits to share on social media. These types of words are now used in everyday conversation and have been added as official words in dictionaries, such as the Oxford Dictionary. In a survey done by DailyMail, 2000 parents were surveyed on their ability to understand the language used by younger generations on social media. Through this survey, it was found that 86% of parents felt that their children were speaking an entirely different language on social media. This shows the rapid pace at which communication is formed and made between those in younger age groups compared to those in older age groups. Social media influences change through the effortlessness and essentialness of changing and creating lexemes.
Change is imperative as a drive in language and the development of new words. Speech sounds of words and vowel pronunciation were changed throughout significant events from the past. Semantic definitions were impacted and therefore changed due to circumstances. Social media platforms require the formation of new words and they can be produced in an uncomplicated manner.
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