LANGUAGE CHANGE Flashcards

Question

Define Neologism/coinage

Answer 1

The creation of new words

Answer 2

When the meaning of a particular word becomes more specific ## Footnote Example: Meat used to refer to general food, now it only refers to animal flesh

Answer 3

When the meaning of a word becomes more positive ## Footnote Example: Pretty used to have the negative meaning of cunning and astute

Answer 4

When the meaning of a word becomes less favourable/more negative ## Footnote Example: 'silly' which meant 'happy' in Middle English now has negative connotations

Answer 5

When a word takes on additional new meanings ## Footnote Example: 'holiday' originally referred to 'holy day' but now includes any day of celebration

Answer 6

An indirect word or expression substituted for another one that is too blunt to use ## Footnote Examples: Passed away, downsized, let go of

Answer 7

A phrase, remark, or opinion that has been overused and is therefore not original ## Footnote Example: time heals, happily ever after

Answer 8

A figure of speech that juxtaposes two contrasting ideas within parallel grammatical structures ## Footnote Example: Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing

Answer 9

To convey a message without risking censorship for crude language

Answer 10

They reflect cultural and social shifts as they change over time ## Footnote Example: Language like 'depopulation' or 'harvested' used in modern society when fererring to eating animals, as opposed to "killing"

Answer 11

Progressive constructions express ongoing activities; past expresses happenings over a period of time in the past (past progressive) and present expresses that a current/ongoing happening. ## Footnote Examples: 'I’m singing' (present), 'She was waiting' (past)

Answer 12

A word made by shortening and combining two words ## Footnote Examples: can't (can + not), don't (do + not)

Answer 13

The indication of the grammatical form of a word, usually at the end of the word ## Footnote Example: 'walk' inflected to 'walked', 'walks', 'walking'

Answer 14

Expressing the opposite meaning of a word or sentence by inserting this ## Footnote changing "one could have seen anything" to "no one could have seen anything" changes the meaning of the last word from "anything" to "nothing"

Answer 15

The intended message of a text ## Footnote Example: A mother saying 'Better put some sunscreen on' implies it's sunny and hot, so suburn might occur.

Answer 16

An implicit assumption about the world or background belief

Answer 17

Language and structures socially acquired to build awareness

Answer 18

People closer together in a physical environment are more likely to form a relationship

Answer 19

Where regional variations in language are reduced due to factors like interaction and mobility

Answer 20

The idea that a World Standard English is emerging with varieties growing closer together

Answer 21

The idea that English will dissolve into separate dialects over time

Answer 22

The ability to use two dialects of the same language, with people about to adapt their language to meet the needs of different situations. A linguist that believes in this theory is David Crystal.

Answer 23

The frequent use of coordinating conjunctions like "and" to link clauses.

Answer 24

The past tense and past participle forms (-ed) were identical for all verbs. EG "He took" (past), "He has taken" (Participle) - MODERN "He took" (past), "He has took" (Participle) - EMOD

Answer 25

Forms like 'thee' and 'thou' were used for formal address to social superiors

Answer 26

Increased influence of Latin and prescriptive grammar rules influenced grammar and syntax

Answer 27

The process where older words, spellings, and grammatical structures gradually disappear

Answer 28

This major phonological change began in the late 15th century and continued into the 18th century. It altered the pronunciation of vowels, making English pronunciation quite different from its spelling.

Answer 29

Old and Middle English were written in the Latin alphabet and the vowels were represented by the letters assigned to the sounds in Latin. The pronunciation of English had moved so far from its visual representation that a new alphabet was needed, and in the sixteenth century there were the first attempts to "reform" English spellings.

Answer 30

William Caxton introducing the printing press to England in 1476 meant that spelling, which had been largely phonetic and inconsistent, began to regularise, due to the printers’ need for standard typesetting practices. The ability to distribute identical copies of a text encouraged the development of consistent grammar rules and syntax.

Answer 31

As time went on and the language was beginning to be spoken and written more widely, the lack of regularity in spelling was a great hindrance to people trying to read and write English. This was due to the regional dialectical spellings of the time, meaning there were multiple ways to spell certain words - and books needed several versions to account for these regional dialects.

Answer 32

(1300-1600) The Renaissance brought an influx of Latin and Greek terms into English, especially in fields like science, medicine, and philosophy. This period also saw the introduction of many French words, as well as borrowing from other languages due to exploration and trade.

Answer 33

1611 It became one of the most widely read texts in English, playing a key role in standardising English during a time where regional dialects varied. Its use in churches, schools and homes meant that people from all backgrounds encountered the same form of English - spreading spelling, word use, grammatical patterns and phrases across the country.

Answer 34

1642 The English Civil War introduced a variety of political and military terms into language - words and phrases associated with governance, democracy and civil rights entered the English lexicon. Also, the rise in political pamphlets allowed ordinary citizens to engage in political discourse, leading to a more informal, accessible style of written English.

Answer 35

The global trading networks established by the Empire introduced new terms related to navigation and economics, reflecting the global interconnectedness generated by the Empire. The Empire also meant that English became the dominant language in the fields of education, administration and law in colonised countries.

Answer 36

he Industrial Revolution led to new inventions, machinery and processes which meant that new words and technical jargon needed to be created. As cities grew rapidly due to industrialisation so did the vocabulary related to urban life and social issues - such as labour terms. Advances in printing technology during the Industrial Revolution such as the steam-powered printing press made books and newspapers more affordable and accessible to the masses - this aided the standardisation of English. The language of economics also expanded during this time as capitalism grew - reflecting the growing importance of commerce and finance.

Answer 37

Samuel Johnson's A dictionary of the English Language (1755) standardised spellings for thousands of words and set a benchmark that established a more uniform written language. Spelling reform and consistency had a profound effect on literacy rates. Once spelling was standardised, it was easier for people to learn how to read and write. As English spelling became more predictable, education systems were able to teach spelling rules more effectively.

Answer 38

The rapid advancement of technology, particularly in the fields of computing, the internet and social media has introduced an array of new words and terms into the English language. Innovations such as smartphones, and social media platforms has required new vocabulary to describe new devices, processes and activities.

Answer 39

TV and radio have also impacted the language of politics, news and public discourse. The rise of slogans (such as Brexit, or fake news)influenced by mass media has shaped how issues are discussed and understood - making language more concise and geared towards quick consumption.

Answer 40

The rise of texting and instant messaging has generated more informal communication styles. People are more likely to use abbreviations, shortened words, emojis and casual expressions in their everyday written interactions. This shift has blurred the lines between written and spoken language, making written communication more conversational and informal. The 21st century has seen the rise of multimodal communication which has influenced English by making more creative uses of language and condensing information into shorter, more impactful forms.

Answer 41

1660 Scientists like Issac Newton produced new scientific ideas. Initially the society spoke in Latin but later switched to English. Words for new ideas were coined

Answer 42

1960s Introduces many new words showing how external factors can affect language change.

Answer 43

1500-1700 The frequent use of coordinate clauses with "and" instead of subordination.

Answer 44

1500-1700 The increasing influence of Latin and prescriptive grammar rules

Answer 45

The lack of standardised punctuation and flexible word order

Answer 46

The process of language change where older words, spellings, and grammatical structures gradually disappear over time.

Answer 47

How people adjust their speech behaviours to match others; this can include accent, grammar, vocabulary, and delivery style.

Answer 48

Any form of communication that uses a keyboard or digital device, rather than being spoken or written traditionally.

Answer 49

The study of written and spoken language focusing on how power is enacted.

Answer 50

The belief that language is in decline from a previous peak, often held by prescriptivists.

Answer 51

Viewing language as being standard or non-standard without making value judgments about correctness.

Answer 52

The historical development of language over time.

Answer 53

The study of the origin and history of words and how their meanings have changed.

Answer 54

A process where one language is imposed on speakers of another, often undermining their rights.

Answer 55

A belief that language should be preserved from change or influence from other languages.

Answer 56

Using multiple channels (e.g., speech and body language) to communicate.

Answer 57

Viewing language as correct or incorrect and prescribing a ‘correct’ form of usage.

Answer 58

A language variation associated with a particular social group.

Answer 59

A group whose members share common linguistic traits.

Answer 60

The study of language change at a specific point in time.

Answer 61

Speaking with a rising intonation at the end of a declarative sentence.

Answer 62

A method for visually representing spoken language, including letters and punctuation.

Answer 63

The idea that language is influenced by contect with other languages and dialects. It explains how a dominant incoming language is altered by contact with a native language. For example: The influence of Norse and Norman French after the Norman Conquest (1066) which eroded inflection within the English language.

LANGUAGE CHANGE Flashcards

(87 cards)