Language Change Theories

Question 1

David Crystal (2001)

Answer 1

The way we communicate online is similar to how we communicate in real life. He believes we are now living in a linguistic economy in which now language is more practical than formal, we shorten word for practicality, this has derived from things like text talk.

Question 2

Donald Mackinnon (1996)

Answer 2

Categorises the attitudes people may have to language use:
1) as incorrect or correct;
2) as pleasant or ugly;
3) socially acceptable or socially unacceptable;
4) morally acceptable or morally unacceptable;
5) appropriate in context or inappropriate in context;
6) useful or useless.

Question 3

Harvey and Shalom (1997)

Answer 3

Taboo language has become increasingly acceptable in the home, between friends and in informal situations. Over times it becomes more acceptable in society at large.

Question 4

Jean Aitchison (1996)

Answer 4

Three metaphors to describe language change; The damp spoon syndrome, the crumbling castle view, and the infectious disease assumption.

Question 5

Robert Lowth (1762)

Answer 5

A prescriptivist. Introduced the first grammar book for the English Language.

Question 6

Sapir Whorf Hypothesis

Answer 6

This states that the certain thoughts of an individual in one language cannot be understood by those who live in another language. The way people think is strongly effected by their native languages.

Question 7

Sharon Goodman (1996)

Answer 7

Explores two aspects of language change: firstly, she states that we are living in a time where language has become informal, this is the idea that language which was used in close personal relationships is now being used in wider sociological context. She also talks about supercharged typographic icon- Letters in the English language act as symbols in modern society with meanings behind them. E.g. X means incorrect.