Language Change - Theorists Flashcards
Functional theory
The idea that language changes because society does.
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
The idea, derived from the work of Sapir and Whorf, that our language constructs our view of the world and that it is difficult or even impossible to think beyond it.
Language reform/Political correctness
A term used, usually by liberal commentators, to support the idea of consciously changing language because it is considered unfair to different groups.
Damp spoon syndrome
This view suggests that language change is caused by sloppiness or laziness, the kind of sloppiness you get with a damp spoon being left in the sugar bowl.
Jean Aitchison - Crumbling Castle
This view sees the English language as a beautiful old building which needs to be preserved; the English language has been gradually and carefully created until it has reached the pinnacle of splendour.
Infectious disease
This view suggests that we catch change from those around us.
Donald Mackinnon (1996)
He suggested that language can be seen as; correct or incorrect; pleasant or ugly; socially acceptable or socially unnaceptable; morally acceptable or morally unacceptable; appropriate or innapropriate in their context; **useful to us or useless.
Norman Fairclough
Changing language is not enough, we must also change society.
Milroy & Milroy (1985)
Standardisation, therefore, is an ongoing process and an ideological struggle.
Haugen (1966)
4 stages of standardisation - selection, codification, elaboration and implementation.
S-curve
Language change follows a ‘_______’. where the new form of speech is just one of many, it competes, and slowly becomes the dominant variant.
Linguistic reflection theory
Thoughts are reflected in language, so if thoughts change, so does language.
Miller and Swift (1980)
Political Correctness in language does make a difference to sexism, offering more gender neutral terms to replace marked ones such as fireman, chairman, and nanny.
