theorists / model

Question 1

Jean Aichison

Answer 1

3 metaphors: Crumbling Castle (decay), Damp Spoon (laziness), Infectious Disease (spread like disease)

Question 2

Donald Mackinnon

Answer 2

Attitudes to change: correctness, social acceptability, pleasantness, usefulness

Question 3

Functional theory

Answer 3

Language changes to meet users’ needs (e.g., new words for technology)

Question 4

Random fluctuation theory

Answer 4

Change arises from random errors or variations

Question 5

S-Curve model (Chen)

Answer 5

Change is slow, speeds up’ then stabilises

Question 6

Wave model (Bailey)

Answer 6

Change spreads like ripples from a central point

Question 7

Prescriptivism vs Descriptivism

Answer 7

preserve language vs change is inevitable

Question 8

Descriptivist theorists

Answer 8

David Crystal - english evolves to meet needs of speakers

Jean Aitchison - change happens for reasons

Peter Trudgill - non-standard forms are valid

William Labov - language variation and change are systematic

Question 9

Prescriptivist theories

Answer 9

Lynne Truss - advocates for correct punctuation

Simon Heffer - argues for traditional standards and grammar

John Humphyrs - worries about dumbing down language due to tech

Question 10

Robin Lakoff

Answer 10

womens language - hedges, tag questions, intensifiers, politeness

Question 11

Deborah Tannen

Answer 11

difference model - men (status), women (support)

Question 12

Deborah Cameron

Answer 12

criticises simplistic gender explanations - focuses on context

Question 13

Zimmerman and West

Answer 13

dominance model - men interrupt more than women

Question 14

Beattie

Answer 14

women interrupt just as much (counters Zimmerman and West)

Question 15

Basil Bernstein

Answer 15

elaborated code (middle class) vs restricted code (working class)

Question 16

Peter Trudgill

Answer 16

social class influences pronunciation and grammar

Question 17

Gary Ives

Answer 17

teen slang is used for social identity; changes over time

Question 18

Penelope Eckert

Answer 18

adolescents use non-standard forms

Question 19

Dialect Levelling

Answer 19

regional differences are becoming less distinct due to increased mobility

Question 20

Substratum Theory

Answer 20

language change happens due to influences from other languages

Question 21

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

Answer 21

language shapes thought and perception

Question 22

O’Barr and Atkins

Answer 22

challenged Lakoff showing that power influences speech styles

Question 23

Jennifer Coates

Answer 23

womens conversation - supportive, cooperative, topic development

Question 24

Pamela Fishman

Answer 24

found 220 terms for a promiscuous female compared to only 20 for a male

Question 25

Deborah Tannens Six Contrasts

Answer 25