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28 Dec 2025
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English Language A-Level: Understanding Grammatical Changes
L
Lauren Giles
@laurengiles_rfks
1 / 3
Changing Grammatical Rules and Standardisation
English grammar has transformed dramatically over centuries, and you can still see traces of these changes today. The pronoun 'you' replaced older forms like 'thou' and 'thee' because it was considered more socially neutral - basically, it was the safer, more polite option that everyone could use.
The verb 'to do' also evolved significantly from Old and Middle English, where people said "I doth" and "he dost." Poets and playwrights often used 'do' alongside main verbs to add extra syllables to their work, giving us patterns we still recognise in Shakespeare today.
Standardisation became crucial when English needed to be taken seriously as a language. Haugen identified four key stages: selection (choosing which variety to use), codification (writing down the rules), elaboration (expanding its uses), and implementation (getting people to actually use it). This process continues today - think about how texting language gradually becomes accepted in more formal contexts.
Key Point: Attitudes towards language change vary widely. Some people have the "damp spoon syndrome" (blaming laziness), whilst others see English as a "crumbling castle" that needs preservation.
Why Language Change Happens
Social and historical events massively influence how we speak and write. Major shifts like the Norman Conquest, the introduction of dictionaries, and the Elementary Education Act all left permanent marks on English. More recently, World Wars, post-war prosperity, and the rise of technology have accelerated change.
The 1950s gave birth to 'teenagers' as a distinct social group, bringing new vocabulary and a more informal communication style. Television and film then spread these changes rapidly across different social groups, making language evolution faster than ever before.
Internal language processes also drive change naturally. Assimilation happens when adjacent sounds become similar (like saying "handbag" as "hambag"), whilst omission occurs when we drop sounds for fluency - this isn't laziness, it actually makes speech flow better.
Key Point: 'Neatening' or regularisation smooths out language inconsistencies over time, targeting the 'weak points' where rules seem arbitrary or confusing.
How Language Change Spreads
Language change follows predictable patterns that linguists can map and study. The S-curve model shows how new features spread through communities: starting slowly, accelerating rapidly, then stabilising as they become established.
Random fluctuation and cultural transmission play huge roles in this process. Charles Hockett's theory suggests that we learn language conventions through interaction, and sometimes errors get passed along and become accepted features - you can see this happening with technology terms that started as mistakes.
The S-curve also applies to overlapping changes, where large-scale transformations actually consist of multiple smaller, interconnected shifts. This explains why old and new forms often coexist for years before older versions eventually disappear.
Key Point: Language change isn't chaotic - it follows recognisable patterns that help linguists predict how new features will spread through different communities and age groups.
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4.9/5
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4.8/5
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
English Language A-Level: Understanding Grammatical Changes
L
Lauren Giles
@laurengiles_rfks
Language change is happening all around you - from the slang you use with mates to the way your grandparents speak differently than you do. Understanding how and why English evolves over time isn't just academic theory; it's the story... Show more
Changing Grammatical Rules and Standardisation
English grammar has transformed dramatically over centuries, and you can still see traces of these changes today. The pronoun 'you' replaced older forms like 'thou' and 'thee' because it was considered more socially neutral - basically, it was the safer, more polite option that everyone could use.
The verb 'to do' also evolved significantly from Old and Middle English, where people said "I doth" and "he dost." Poets and playwrights often used 'do' alongside main verbs to add extra syllables to their work, giving us patterns we still recognise in Shakespeare today.
Standardisation became crucial when English needed to be taken seriously as a language. Haugen identified four key stages: selection (choosing which variety to use), codification (writing down the rules), elaboration (expanding its uses), and implementation (getting people to actually use it). This process continues today - think about how texting language gradually becomes accepted in more formal contexts.
Key Point: Attitudes towards language change vary widely. Some people have the "damp spoon syndrome" (blaming laziness), whilst others see English as a "crumbling castle" that needs preservation.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Why Language Change Happens
Social and historical events massively influence how we speak and write. Major shifts like the Norman Conquest, the introduction of dictionaries, and the Elementary Education Act all left permanent marks on English. More recently, World Wars, post-war prosperity, and the rise of technology have accelerated change.
The 1950s gave birth to 'teenagers' as a distinct social group, bringing new vocabulary and a more informal communication style. Television and film then spread these changes rapidly across different social groups, making language evolution faster than ever before.
Internal language processes also drive change naturally. Assimilation happens when adjacent sounds become similar (like saying "handbag" as "hambag"), whilst omission occurs when we drop sounds for fluency - this isn't laziness, it actually makes speech flow better.
Key Point: 'Neatening' or regularisation smooths out language inconsistencies over time, targeting the 'weak points' where rules seem arbitrary or confusing.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
How Language Change Spreads
Language change follows predictable patterns that linguists can map and study. The S-curve model shows how new features spread through communities: starting slowly, accelerating rapidly, then stabilising as they become established.
Random fluctuation and cultural transmission play huge roles in this process. Charles Hockett's theory suggests that we learn language conventions through interaction, and sometimes errors get passed along and become accepted features - you can see this happening with technology terms that started as mistakes.
The S-curve also applies to overlapping changes, where large-scale transformations actually consist of multiple smaller, interconnected shifts. This explains why old and new forms often coexist for years before older versions eventually disappear.
Key Point: Language change isn't chaotic - it follows recognisable patterns that help linguists predict how new features will spread through different communities and age groups.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content: Grammar
Most popular content in English Language
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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user