AO2 for language change

Attitudes/ideas about language change

Disintegration – The idea that the English language will disintegrate into a collection of related but largely separate dialects. In 

1978, Robert Burchfield, editor of the Oxford English Dictionary predicted that within a few centuries the speakers of British and American English would be unable to understand each other.

Uniformity – The idea that a World Standard English is emerging, with the different varieties of English growing closer together, as a result of the influence of increased communication and the media.

Bidialectalism – The ability to use two dialects of the same language, with people about to adapt their language to meet the needs of different situations. A linguist that believes in this theory is David Crystal.

 

Standardisation

Prescriptivism – Prescribes how language should be in order to be better or pure; uses criteria of good/bad language, where standard forms are seen as good; draws its model of language from dictionaries, grammar books, etc.; rejects non-standard forms (e.g. slang, dialect, etc.) as bad; emphasis on written forms of language; language change is seen as decay of a pure form of language to be resisted and challenged, based on the golden age of the past.

Descriptivism – Describes the nature of language variations without judgement; uses criteria of standard/non-standard, or appropriateness in context; draws its model from how language is used by a variety of people in a variety of contexts; recognises importance of a standard form but accepts the many variations to it as legitimate and acceptable; language change is seen as part of the progress of language; believes language is worthy of study and recognition wherever it is used.

AS topics

Power – Power often leads to a more formal register, sophisticated lexis choice, the use of grammatical features such as the imperatives and bold fonts.

Gender – Changes in attitudes to gender has effected the English Language in the sense that texts are beginning to use more gender-neutral concepts and terminology as women have gained more rights. This change is also reflected within the use of graphology to indicate the gender of the intended audience.

Technology – Technology has had a great impact upon the context of the written word, e.g. internet blogs and text messaging. The influence of the printing press was also immeasurable – Caxton’s printing press led to greater standardisation and the establishment of norms. 

Informalisation

- Informalisation has led to the increased use of ‘slang’, varied graphology and a more personal and colloquial tone. It usually runs parallel with prescriptivism and standardisation; as such processes add a more formal and rigid structure to the English Language.