Language Change
National Science Foundation ‘language and
linguistics- Language Change’ 28/08/2015 available www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/lingustics/change.jsp
(“languages change for a variety of reasons. Larger scale shifts often occur in
response to social, economic and political pressures. History records many of
examples of language change fueled by invasions, colonization and migration.
[…] Frequently, the needs of speakers
drive language change. New technologies, industries, products and experiences
simply require new word [ing]. Plastic, [mobile] phones and the internet didn’t
exist in Shakesperian time for example. By using new and emerging terms, we all
drive language change.”
NSF clearly displays the variety of ways in
which language can change and why it does so. Giving clear examples of the key
changes historically and within modern society.
“Language History, Language change and
language relationship. An introduction to historical and comparative
linguistics.” Written by Hans Henrich Hock, Brian D Joseph- 1996. Chptr 1.
Language Keeps Changing. Includes a large text extracted from the end of a song
by ‘Ario Guthrie’ where he is “bantering with masses of young people” mostly in
their late teens or early twenties at Woodstock festival in August 1969. With
quotes such as “far out man” and “I was rappin’ to the fuzz” pulled and used as
examples. An analysis by the authors which suggests the “youth [and] hip culture
of the late 1960s and early 1970s…” still has the same connotations but
different ways of using each word. Throughout the book explanations and studies
are furthermore explored. (Read until pg 40).
The British Library found at www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/changlang/across/languagetimeline.html
is an introductory website that gives a clear timeline set out of the way in
which language is used from the Celtic era to modern day use. It includes brief
and short explanations in which historic periods of time influenced the
language used today and which words were extracted and are still in current
use. Clear examples/lists of these words are under each explanation and history
of the language used.
Language change (www-Rohan.stsu.edu/~gauron/fundamentals/course_core/lectures/historical/historical.htm)
is a website based upon not just the general language change politically,
socially etc, but the vowel shifts and proto language used historically into
the modern era shown in poetry, pieces of writing, plays and television. It
bases the entirety of the study around the regional dialects built over time
stemming from invasionary happenings from various countries, who bought over
their language and settled, therefore affecting ‘the English language’ we know
today.
The Phonological Change in English (www.bris.ac.uk/german/hison/reading/hickyforth
by Raymonf Hickey- The university of Duisburg and Essen, highlights how the the
sound system of English has undergone considerable change in the 1500 years for
which documents of the language exist. And how the language change is so great
that the earliest forms of language are not readily comprehensible to speakers
of English today. The primary focus is on the study of phonology starting in
the 19hundreds and continuing to modern day. The mention of the ‘close link
between lingusic theory and phonological studies” and how thi research into the
history if sound in the English system is prominent throughout. The website lists
many case studies who contributed hugely to the phonology study and should be remembered
for future use.
Good range of reading. Don't forget to practise full Hardvard referencing.
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