Bidialectism - the use of the national standard and
a regional dialect.
Lexical gaps - the theory that a new word or
meaning creates room in the lexicon for related
forms e.g. Brexit = brexiter, brexiting.
Norman Fairclough
Conversationalisation - convergence of spoken and written
discourse.
S-curve - model that describes the speed at which a
new word or meaning grows in use e.g. a gradual
start, then rapid increase, then a levelling off.
Infectious disease theory - We 'catch' changes from those
around us and we ought to fight such diseases. However,
perhaps it is not a disease because people want to change
due to sociolect - they want to fit in with the language that
specific social groups use. This metaphor challenges the idea
that changes in language are like a virus.
Crumbling castles theory - Language should be preserved
intact, but language has never been perfect and must
continue to change in order to cope with changing social
circumstances. This metaphor is used to challenge the idea
that language change means language decay.
Argues against a prescriptive view of language, which
identifies a vast network or rules and checks usage against
these rules. Complaints by prescriptivists are often not about
failure to communicate but failure to communicate in a certain
way.
Damp spoon theory - Language has not become lazy - the
only true lazy language is drunken language. Used as a
metaphor to challenge the idea that some language is ugly or
distasteful.
1 - Potential - a need for a new word arises because of
something new in the world.
2 - Implementation - a few people start to use the new language
3 - Diffusion - the innovation spreads and is used more widely.
4 - Codification - the new language enters the dictionary and is
used as a standard for of language.
Stages to
explain
how new
words
enter the
language.
Linguistic determinism - language
and its structures limit and determine
human knowledge or thought, as well
as though processes such as
categorisation, memory and
perception. This implies that people of
different languages have different
thoughts.
Conversationalisation and personalisation Advertisements and marketing texts are increasingly
attempting to mimic speech - includes synthetic
personalisation.
Standardisation making all variations of
language conform to one
version.
Archaic - a word that is only rarely used in common
language and we associate with older modes of
speech.
Suzanne Romaine
The internal and external history of language.
Internal (PRESCRIPTIVIST) = formation of new words and
the influence of dictionaries. Looks at what happens inside
the language with no external influences.
Sapir-Whorf
Focuses on the influence of
different varieties of
language e.g. dialects,
sociolects, occupational
lexis. Focuses on how they
change mainstream
language use. Explains
borrowing, hyper-correction,
omission and other ways in
which language changes.
External (DESCRIPTIVIST) = the changing of social
contexts. Looks at language as an ongoing process.
Halliday
Substratum theory Explains how a dominant
incoming language is
altered by contact with a
native language.
Functional theory - explains that language changes to meet
new needs.
Explains the use of archaisms and slang.
Random fluctuation - language is inherently unstable and
change is unpredictable. Random events and errors lead to
language change as a consequence of ever-changing
contextual factors.
Charles Hockett
Language change theories and concepts
Sharon Goodman
Jean Aitchison
Informalisation = the process whereby language forms that
were traditionally reserved for close personal relationships
are now used in wider social contexts. The way in which
language is becoming increasingly informal in all areas of
society.
Economisation - a more compressed style of
writing to communicate information more efficiently.
The Queen's English Society - Represent an
autocratic movement and are prescriptive in their
view of language and language change.
Young cuckoo process - New words slowly get
used more than the old and eventually the new word
will replace the old.
Etymological argument - basis for criticising any
use of words such as 'decimate' with a more general
sense than their original meaning.
Wave model - explains how changes diffuse
through geographical and social space, likely ripples
on a pond.
Evolution - suggestion that language has
developed and adapted rather than decayed.
Reflectionism - the idea that language changes in
response to changes in our thoughts.
Prescriptivism - a language ideology that makes
judgements about what is right and wrong.
David Crystal
Uses the term 'asynchronous' to describe groups where
postings are placed on boards in chat-rooms and
'synchronous' to describe groups of people who chat in real
life.
Codification - the establishment of spelling and
grammar rules for language.
Descriptivism - a language ideology that seeks to
describe without making value judgements.
Obsolete - a word that is no longer used.
Colloquialisation - where writing uses language
more typically seen in spoken registers.
Drift - the slow shifting of a word's meaning over
time.
Einar Haugen
Schizoglossia - an anxiety about which is the right form of
language to use at a particular moment.