Language Change

Question 1

language change processes Compounding

Answer 1

• existing words to form new words

Question 2

blending

Answer 2

joining morphemes or syllables from existing words (glamping)

Question 3

pejoration

Answer 3

change in word’s meaning, so it losses status (mistress_)

Question 4

amelioration

Answer 4

change in word’s meaning, so it gains status (wicked)

Question 5

clipping

Answer 5

shortening words, as in “maths” for “mathematics” and “doc” for “doctors”

Question 6

broadening

Answer 6

extending a range of meaning (cool)

Question 7

narrowing

Answer 7

loss of range of meaning (meat)

Question 8

conversion

Answer 8

creating new meanings by using it in a different word class (google)

Question 9

affixation

Answer 9

adding a prefix or suffix to a word (kitchenette)

Question 10

acronyms

Answer 10

abbreviations

Question 11

SWH Determinism

Answer 11

language determines how we think

Question 12

criticism of determinism

Answer 12

Native American nation - Sapir and Whorf studied
they misunderstood the language and thought they didn’t have ‘tenses’ in language, that why they were more relaxed
You can change the words but it will not change the attitude.

Question 13

Reflectionism

Answer 13

language is shaped by our thoughts

Question 14

criticism of reflectionism

Answer 14

dismisses the value of trying to shape or change lang.
according to that racist lang can be changed only when attitudes change

Question 15

lexical gap

Answer 15

When a language doesn’t have a word for a particular concept. such as aggression and compassion don’t have a verb from
unlike confession -confess

Question 16

random fluctuation and cultural transmission

Answer 16

Charles Hockett’s theory: language is unstable. it is not a progress or decay, it’s just a response to the changing context.
(book=cool in 21 century)

Question 17

substratum theory

Answer 17

influence from foreign lang.
william labov - jewish over pronounced coffee(caw-fee) and it became new NewYork Accent

Question 18

functional theory

Answer 18

-Language changes according to the needs of its users
like memory stick
changes are more lexical

Question 19

s-curve

Answer 19

Chen’s assertion: new lang/pronunciation is adapted by users at a certain rate and no effect seen. then change accelerates and then slows down.

Question 20

wave

Answer 20

Bailey(1973): how change spreads out gradually - the further away you are from the origin of a particular change (geographically or status) = the less impact it will have on you.

Question 21

Jean Aitchison 1

Answer 21

potential - there is an external pressure for social change.

Question 22

Jean Aitchison 2

Answer 22

diffusion - change starts to spread out through the population.

Question 23

Jean Aitchison 3

Answer 23

implementation - people start using the variant

Question 24

Jean Aitchison 4

Answer 24

codification model - written down, put into the dictionary, accepted officially

Question 25

Jean Aitchison is a descriptivist - she developed three metaphors for prescriptivists

Answer 25

1. dump spoon - laziness e.g. lol, gr8 2. crumbling castle - we have to preserve language, like we preserve old historical objects (but to what form are we coming back, when was English's golden period?) 3. infectious disease - the change is spreading like a virus. (change only catches and adopts by people when they need it, otherwise it's not gonna stay for long)

Question 26

Guy Deutscher motives for language change: ECONOMY

Answer 26

saves effort refers to pronunciation - 'wasn't' , 'innit' language gets more efficient

Question 27

Guy Deutscher motives for language change: EXPRESSIVENESS

Answer 27

language bleached of meaning we need more synonyms for lang to become fresh and effective, up to date 'good' - ' brilliant, awesome, amazing, fabulous.

Question 28

Guy Deutscher motives for language change: ANALOGY

Answer 28

we are seeking for analogy and logic all the new words have 's' ending for plural the irregular ending 'en' is disappearing

Question 29

David Crystal on text-speak

Answer 29

it's not destroying lang teens are not illiterate they know/learn how to code switch

Question 30

Vyvyan Evans emojis

Answer 30

emojis are helping to communicate online. replicates emotions, body lang, attitude, tone helps to avoid misunderstanding

Question 31

politically correct language

Answer 31

seeks to reduce and remove offence caused to particular individuals through prejudice and discrimination in language. 1970 - usa

Question 32

Kate Swift and Casey Miller

Answer 32

re-writing a sex education textbook, to make it more equal and both gender inclusive. promote respect for both. found it was difficult to do, as male pronouns were used all the time.

Question 33

three types of NON PC LANGUAGE - SUBTLE

Answer 33

exclusive words subtly influenced our way of thinking e.g. policemen, firemen, mailmen: make job only for men imply masculinity is the default and dominant

Question 34

three types of NON PC LANGUAGE - OFFENSIVE

Answer 34

first set - words linked to people to insult them second set - offensive bcs of pejorative connotations implied to words | e.g. gay - as smth undesirable

Question 35

three types of NON PC LANGUAGE - BLATANT

Answer 35

highly offensive words the objectify and belittle entire groups e.g. n-word

Question 36

Euphemism Treadmill (Stephen Pinker)

Answer 36

The process whereby words introduced to replace an offensive word, over time become offensive themselves. 18 century: bog-house -> house-of-office 20th century: lavatory -> bathroom -> restroom -> WC (water closet) -> toilet/loo

Question 37

dominant and muted groups theory Edwin & Shirley Ardener

Answer 37

in all the cultures there are more and less powerful groups powerful will dominate in language others became muted group

Question 38

Gatekeeper is ... opooses to what? example

Answer 38

using language to exclude other people keeping insiders in and outsiders out they opposed to PC language and are in dominant group 'policeman' - keeps women from doing that job.

Question 39

pronoun issue Laura Paterson

Answer 39

pronounce are closed class system you have to hear neutral pronunciation since you are a child to put it in your brain. they singular, titles - Mrs, Mr, Miss -Ms or Mx

Question 40

PC real examples

Answer 40

* kids couldn't sing 'black ship' * Tottenham Hotspurs - Y-word : was a former area around Tottenham, but now used with a bad connotation. * Slutwalks -fresher - in unis - gained a connotation of getting close during Covid 19 - so got banned * black lives matter - racist insisting that all lives matter, not understanding the background behind

Question 41

have we changed?

Answer 41

Young generations are used to 'firefighter' to singular they - which supports Determinism but racism still exists, though people are terrified of n-word - supports Reflectivism

Question 42

woke language is

Answer 42

language that is very inclusive, people who use it understand the perspective of others, not simply thier 'white middle class' point of view

Question 43

the problem with woke language

Answer 43

it underwent pejoration process Euphamism treadmill and gaind a negative connotation through overuse of it in the social media

Question 44

what was called the first form of woke language +a year

Answer 44

Black slang 1960s

Question 45

woke rpelaced

Answer 45

pc as ps also became pejorative