Language Change

The creation of new words.

New words

Creating a new word by borrowing one from another language e.g. spaghetti

The creation of new words due to scientific advances e.g. Internet

New word creation by adding prefix of suffix to exisiting word e.g. hyper-hypersensitive etc

Creating a new word by combining 2 exisiting words e.g. thumbprint

When 2 seperate words are merged together to form a new word e.g. nettiquette

When an existing word changes class e.g. noun-text changed to to text-verb

When you drop 1 or more syllables to create an abbreviation e.g. demo

Where the first letter of a word stands for the word itself e.g. FBI

Initial letters combine to create a completely new word e.g. NASA

A word that has dropped out of usage e.g. durst-dare

Spelling

When a word's meaning changes

When new words are created

When a word develops a more positive meaning e.g. tremendous used to mean terrible

When a word develops a negative meaning e.g. hussy used to mean housewife

When the meaning of a word gets wider e.g. bird used to mean a young bird but now means all birds

When a meaning a of a word gets narrower e.g. meat used to mean all food

Adding ess to words such as actor often no longer used due to political correctness

When a word we associate with an object instead of the object's actual name e.g. cash used to mean money box

Sayings that don't make sense if they are literally interpreted e.g. It's raining cats & dogs

Use of alternative word for uncomfortable subjects e.g. passed away

An idiom that has become overused e.g. at the end of the day

When a word makes less impact than it used to e.g. terrible used to mean causing terror

Sentences used to contain a lot more subordinate clauses since 1700 there has been a shift to shorter sentences.

Very popular up until early 19th century when there was a backlash against them.

Very common before 18th century now considered incorrect

Word order has changed from verb-subject-object to subject-verb-object

Change in pronunciation

Recieved pronunciation-standard English-prestige accent considered to be socially higher than regional accents

New accent that is beginning to replace RP in certain sections of the media-shares many features of cockney.

Appearance of letters and texts has changed over time.

• From 1700 -19th century s would be written as f
• Until 18th century more capital letters were used compared to present day e.g word the writer wanted to emphasise could be capitalised

Up to mid 20th century-serif typeface used from the sans-serif became popular. Also wider range now used due to technological advances

• Wide leading-text isn't close together
• Bigger text
• Colour & lots of pictures
• Range of fonts

Caxton 1476-helped to standardise English

Samuel Johnson 1755 helped to standardise spelling

An attitude towards language that there are a set of correct linguistic rules that English should follow.

Change as a result of outside influences e.g. invasion, immigration

Change because of a need for simplification or ease of articulation

Phonological change when sounds are gradually lost from a language

When one sound is affected by the adjacent sound to produce a new pronunciation e.g. hambag

Wrote a Short Introduction to English Grammar 1762-prescriptivist attitude to English

Mid 18th century advocated standardised pronunciation and elocution lessons