Language Cha
,Reasons for Language
Change
- Functional Theory
- Lexical Gap Theory
- Random Fluctuation
QUESTION
-
Functional theory (Halliday): language alters as the needs of its users alter.
New lexemes appear as they are required for new inventions, ideas etc. Other
lexemes become archaic once they are unnecessary in real life; garments such
as the doublet and kirtle are no longer worn, so we stop using the words.
Lexical gap theory: new lexemes coined through necessity fill 'lexical gaps'.
These neologisms will not already be in use, but will fit the current patterns
within the language, and may also fill phonological gaps, eg. git, get and gut
already exist, so 'gat' could fill a lexical gap.
Random fluctuation (Postal): language is as unpredictable as fashion; hard to
foresee future trends. Hockett also believed change to be unpredictable due to
the errors which occur by chance and are then transmitted through contact
eg. typo 'pwned' for 'o wned' has spread in online gaming.
ANSWER
, Linguistic Terms
- Linguistic Reflectionism
- Lingustic Determinism
&
- Linguistic Relativism
&
QUESTION
Linguistic Reflectionism: the theory that a person's language reflects their way
of thinking; use of sexist language reflects a sexist viewpoint.
Linguistic Determinism: the idea that language can determine thought; if a
person has non- sexist language available to them, then they are less likely to
hold sexist attitudes. Linked to the (strong) Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
Linguistic Relativism: the idea that the language a person speaks has an
influence on this person's thought; linked to the (weak) Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
ANSWER
,Reasons for Language
Change
- Functional Theory
- Lexical Gap Theory
- Random Fluctuation
QUESTION
-
Functional theory (Halliday): language alters as the needs of its users alter.
New lexemes appear as they are required for new inventions, ideas etc. Other
lexemes become archaic once they are unnecessary in real life; garments such
as the doublet and kirtle are no longer worn, so we stop using the words.
Lexical gap theory: new lexemes coined through necessity fill 'lexical gaps'.
These neologisms will not already be in use, but will fit the current patterns
within the language, and may also fill phonological gaps, eg. git, get and gut
already exist, so 'gat' could fill a lexical gap.
Random fluctuation (Postal): language is as unpredictable as fashion; hard to
foresee future trends. Hockett also believed change to be unpredictable due to
the errors which occur by chance and are then transmitted through contact
eg. typo 'pwned' for 'o wned' has spread in online gaming.
ANSWER
, Linguistic Terms
- Linguistic Reflectionism
- Lingustic Determinism
&
- Linguistic Relativism
&
QUESTION
Linguistic Reflectionism: the theory that a person's language reflects their way
of thinking; use of sexist language reflects a sexist viewpoint.
Linguistic Determinism: the idea that language can determine thought; if a
person has non- sexist language available to them, then they are less likely to
hold sexist attitudes. Linked to the (strong) Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
Linguistic Relativism: the idea that the language a person speaks has an
influence on this person's thought; linked to the (weak) Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
ANSWER
