Factors Driving Language Change

Question 1

Migration, Travel, British Empire, + Globalisation

Answer 1

People moving to different parts of the world + take their language + culture with them.
● Introduced language (English in the case of British Empire) can be become dominant in colonised countries- especially language of power + government
● India still use language as language of administration
Lexical borrowing accommodates new foods + cultural experiences
● ‘Curry’ and ‘tea’ (anglicised words)
Globalisation:
● Latter part of 20th century (easier to travel abroad)
● Further developed into world language- impact of technology + American English
● E.g. Marks and Spencers synonymous with ideas about Englishness

Question 2

Wars + Invasions

Answer 2

Norman conquest (brought Latin)
● Invading Germanic tribes over 1000 years ago
● Strong impact on grammatical, phonological + lexical development
● English has larger number of synonyms due to
invasions
● E.g. ‘ask’ from Old English, + ‘question’ from French influences post-1066
Language of warfare today:
● ‘Collateral damage’, ‘surgical strike’

Question 3

Science + Technology

Answer 3

18th + 19th centuries
● Neologisms needed
● Latin + Greek- academic prestige (e.g.
‘chloroform’, ‘centigrade’, ‘biology’)
* Recycle words + use words of a higher status- such as Latin + Greek for medical inventions. (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy)

Question 4

Trade, Working Practices, + New Inventions

Answer 4

Occupations + technological developments have changed English
● Neologisms required
● E.g ‘Dishwasher’; ‘internet’ (international network)

Question 5

Social, Ideological, + Cultural Changes

Answer 5

Changes in attitudes ⇒ language alterations
● Older texts ⇒ different views about certain groups
● Lexis changes to accommodate changing views about acceptability of some language use
● Less disrcimination against certain groups
● Political correctness

Question 6

Media

Answer 6

• More colloquial + speech-like register has evolved.
• ‘BBC English’- now more regional dialogue accepted + present.
  New lexis introduced via media to describe contemporary society to persuade us of a certain view.
  ● Acronym WAG
  ● Popular press use hyperbole + abbreviation to create journalistic style
  Modern media is highly interactive.
  ● Choice of channels
  ● Blogs- individuals can report on events + opinions from where they live
  ● Social networking facilitates personal communication between stranger.