Language Change

Question 1

Descriptivist

Answer 1

Sees all language varieties as useful and valuable. Doesn’t one variety as superior to the others.

Question 2

Prescriptivist

Answer 2

Believe that there are correct and incorrect ways of using language and that books and academic pieces should give rules to follow.

Question 3

Dialect Levelling

Answer 3

Regional dialects are dying as people are moving to larger cities.

Question 4

Harvey and Shalom- Descriptivist

Answer 4

The problem area in language is that there are lots of variations of a concept, which lacks a single form.
Technical- Sexual Intercourse
Euphemism- Sleep with, go to bed with
Dysphemistic- Bonk, Shag, fuck

Question 5

Labov- Descriptivist

Answer 5

Marthas Vineyard, we subconsciously change our language to identify ourselves with one group rather than another.
Changed their language to sound like the fishermen.

Question 6

Samuel Johnson 1775

Answer 6

Made the first English dictionary. Had massive influence on English spelling and language. Wasn’t interested in reforming (descriptivist)