Subjects

English Lang.

Language diversity & change

Language change

Language Change and Word Formation Theories for English Language A Level

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Language Change and Word Formation Theories for English Language A Level

Lauren Giles

@laurengiles_rfks

26 Followers

Language Change Theories in English Language A Level: A Comprehensive Guide

This guide explores key theories and concepts related to language change, essential for English Language A Level students. It covers cognitive theories, language acquisition, word formation processes, and historical events influencing language evolution.

• Explores cognitive and nativist theories of language acquisition
• Examines prescriptivism vs descriptivism in language change
• Discusses various word formation processes and their impact
• Analyzes theories of language change from prominent linguists
• Highlights historical events contributing to English language evolution

02/04/2023

374

Historical Events Contributing to Language Change

This page highlights significant historical events that have shaped the English language A level curriculum's understanding of language change.

The Renaissance:

• Introduced classical learning from Greece and Rome to England • Resulted in many Latin words entering the English language

The Great Vowel Shift:

• A massive sound change in pronunciation between the 14th and 17th centuries • Long vowels shifted upwards in the mouth

Shakespeare's Influence:

• Contributed to standardizing English language rules and grammar • Experimented with liberal grammatical rules • Created at least 1,000 neologisms

Highlight: Shakespeare's works have had a lasting impact on the English language, introducing many words and phrases still used today.

The King James Bible:

• Translated from Latin to English in 1611 • Made religion more accessible to the general population • Became influential due to its global spread, contributing to English becoming a lingua franca

Caxton's Printing Press:

• Set up in Westminster Abbey • Necessitated more standardized spelling for wider accessibility

Vocabulary: Lingua franca - a common language used by speakers of different native languages

These historical events demonstrate how external factors can significantly influence language change in English language A level studies, providing context for the evolution of the English language over time.

theorg-Bruner
Nelson
Montin
spron-alod
Cognitivist themy
plaget
Benaliounst / immitation
shunner
SOD
naophrases
Natavist Y
- anamsiy
the my

Word Formation Processes and Theories of Language Change

This page delves into various word formation processes in English language A level and introduces key theories of language change.

Word formation processes discussed include:

• Affixation • Clipping • Blending • Compounding • Functional shift • Acronyms and initialisms • Borrowing • Neologisms

Example: 'Staycation' is an example of blending, combining 'stay' and 'vacation'.

The page then introduces theories of language change:

• Halliday's Functional Theory • Charles Hockett's Random Fluctuation and Cultural Transmission Theory

Highlight: Hockett's theory emphasizes two distinct stages of language change: innovation and diffusion.

Definition: A lexical gap occurs when there is a need to express something for which no word currently exists, leading to the creation of new words.

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Cognitive Theories and Language Acquisition

This page introduces fundamental cognitive theories and concepts related to language acquisition and change.

Vocabulary: Cognitivist theory, Nativist theory, Usage-based theory

The page covers various theorists and their contributions to understanding language acquisition:

• Bruner, Nelson, and Montin's cognitive approaches • Piaget's constructivist theory • Skinner's behaviorist/imitation theory • Chomsky's nativist theory • Tomasello's usage-based theory

Highlight: The contrast between prescriptivism and descriptivism is a key concept in understanding attitudes towards language change.

The page also introduces important terminology related to language change:

• Prescriptivism vs Descriptivism • Archaic language • Political correctness • Codification • Strong and weak verbs

Definition: Linguistic determinism is the idea that language must change first to alter attitudes, while linguistic reflectionism suggests that attitudes must change before language does.

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Models and Metaphors of Language Change

This page explores various models and metaphors used to explain language change in English language A level.

The Wave Model:

• Proposed by Bailey • Suggests changes start in geographical centers and spread outwards • Criticized as outdated due to the impact of computer-mediated communication (CMC)

The S-Curve Model:

• Developed by Chen • Describes the competition between new and existing language forms • Illustrates how new forms slowly gain prominence, reach a tipping point, and then plateau

Example: The S-curve model can be visualized as a graph showing the adoption rate of a new word or phrase over time.

Metaphors for language change:

• Jean Aitchison's metaphors: damp spoon, crumbling castle, infectious disease • David Crystal's tide metaphor

Quote: "Language change is like the tide washing on a beach; the tide will sometimes wash things ashore, sometimes these things stay for a long time, or sometimes they will be washed away again." - David Crystal

The page also introduces:

• Substratum Theory: language change through contact with other countries • Semantic Reclamation: repurposing words with negative associations

Example: The reclamation of the word "queer" by the LGBTQ+ community is an example of semantic reclamation.

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Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average app rating

13 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 12 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user

I love this app ❤️ I actually use it every time I study.

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

4.9+

Average app rating

13 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 12 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user

I love this app ❤️ I actually use it every time I study.

Subjects

English Lang.

Language diversity & change

Language change

Language Change and Word Formation Theories for English Language A Level

Lauren Giles

@laurengiles_rfks

26 Followers

Language Change Theories in English Language A Level: A Comprehensive Guide

02/04/2023

374

English Lang.

Historical Events Contributing to Language Change

This page highlights significant historical events that have shaped the English language A level curriculum's understanding of language change.

The Renaissance:

• Introduced classical learning from Greece and Rome to England • Resulted in many Latin words entering the English language

The Great Vowel Shift:

• A massive sound change in pronunciation between the 14th and 17th centuries • Long vowels shifted upwards in the mouth

Shakespeare's Influence:

• Contributed to standardizing English language rules and grammar • Experimented with liberal grammatical rules • Created at least 1,000 neologisms

Highlight: Shakespeare's works have had a lasting impact on the English language, introducing many words and phrases still used today.

The King James Bible:

Caxton's Printing Press:

• Set up in Westminster Abbey • Necessitated more standardized spelling for wider accessibility

Vocabulary: Lingua franca - a common language used by speakers of different native languages

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Word Formation Processes and Theories of Language Change

This page delves into various word formation processes in English language A level and introduces key theories of language change.

Word formation processes discussed include:

• Affixation • Clipping • Blending • Compounding • Functional shift • Acronyms and initialisms • Borrowing • Neologisms

Example: 'Staycation' is an example of blending, combining 'stay' and 'vacation'.

The page then introduces theories of language change:

• Halliday's Functional Theory • Charles Hockett's Random Fluctuation and Cultural Transmission Theory

Highlight: Hockett's theory emphasizes two distinct stages of language change: innovation and diffusion.

Definition: A lexical gap occurs when there is a need to express something for which no word currently exists, leading to the creation of new words.

Sign up to get unlimited access to thousands of study materials. It's free!

Access to all documents

Join milions of students

Improve your grades

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Cognitive Theories and Language Acquisition

This page introduces fundamental cognitive theories and concepts related to language acquisition and change.

Vocabulary: Cognitivist theory, Nativist theory, Usage-based theory

The page covers various theorists and their contributions to understanding language acquisition:

• Bruner, Nelson, and Montin's cognitive approaches • Piaget's constructivist theory • Skinner's behaviorist/imitation theory • Chomsky's nativist theory • Tomasello's usage-based theory

Highlight: The contrast between prescriptivism and descriptivism is a key concept in understanding attitudes towards language change.

The page also introduces important terminology related to language change:

• Prescriptivism vs Descriptivism • Archaic language • Political correctness • Codification • Strong and weak verbs

Definition: Linguistic determinism is the idea that language must change first to alter attitudes, while linguistic reflectionism suggests that attitudes must change before language does.

Sign up to get unlimited access to thousands of study materials. It's free!

Access to all documents

Join milions of students

Improve your grades

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Models and Metaphors of Language Change

This page explores various models and metaphors used to explain language change in English language A level.

The Wave Model:

• Proposed by Bailey • Suggests changes start in geographical centers and spread outwards • Criticized as outdated due to the impact of computer-mediated communication (CMC)

The S-Curve Model:

• Developed by Chen • Describes the competition between new and existing language forms • Illustrates how new forms slowly gain prominence, reach a tipping point, and then plateau

Example: The S-curve model can be visualized as a graph showing the adoption rate of a new word or phrase over time.

Metaphors for language change:

• Jean Aitchison's metaphors: damp spoon, crumbling castle, infectious disease • David Crystal's tide metaphor

Quote: "Language change is like the tide washing on a beach; the tide will sometimes wash things ashore, sometimes these things stay for a long time, or sometimes they will be washed away again." - David Crystal

The page also introduces:

• Substratum Theory: language change through contact with other countries • Semantic Reclamation: repurposing words with negative associations

Example: The reclamation of the word "queer" by the LGBTQ+ community is an example of semantic reclamation.

Sign up to get unlimited access to thousands of study materials. It's free!

Access to all documents

Join milions of students

Improve your grades

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Sign up to get unlimited access to thousands of study materials. It's free!

Access to all documents

Join milions of students

Improve your grades

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

4.9+

Average app rating

13 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 12 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user