1 / 14

L23B: Sociolinguistics 2005-2006

Explore the dynamics of language change, from internal vs. external motivations to examples and evidence. Learn how changes spread and reasons languages evolve. Delve into traditional views and ongoing research in the field.

ethorton
Download Presentation

L23B: Sociolinguistics 2005-2006

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. L23B: Sociolinguistics 2005-2006 Please Turn off all cellular phones & pagers L23B Website: www.mona.uwi.edu/dllp/courses/l23b

  2. Course Assessment • Incourse Test (40% of total grade) TEST DATE: MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2006 (2-4pm) • Final Exam (60% of total grade)

  3. Topics for this Session • Brief Review • Language Change • Internally vs. Externally motivated change • Change in Progress

  4. Language Change • Readings (Foundation): Wardhaugh – chapter 8 Janet Holmes - chapter 8

  5. Language Change - English • Source: Mesthrie, Swann et al 1.Old English (c. 400AD to c.1100): • Fder ure, pu pe art on heofonum… 2.Middle English (c.1100 to c.1500): Fader oure pat is i heuen… 3.Early Modern English (c.1500 to c.1800): Our father which art in heaven… 4. Modern English (from c. 1800) Our father who is in heaven…

  6. Language Change (Holmes – chapter 8) Process: • New form develops • New form usedalongside an existing form • if the new form spreads then change is in progress • if it eventually dispatches the old form, the change is complete

  7. How do changes Spread? (Janet Holmes, page#200) • From group to group • From style to style • From word to word

  8. Language Change Examples: • Semantics: e.g. mete/meat – used to refer to all kinds of food • Morphology: e.g.help – past tense was ‘healp’. • Syntax: e.g.‘double negation’ was once acceptable. • Phonology: e.g. Great vowel shift in English

  9. Language Change Evidence of Change taken from: • Poetry/ old literature • Comparative Construction

  10. Language Change Traditional View: distinction between • Internally motivated (change overtime in language used in a community – but withno language contact as causative agent). • Externally motivated (resulting from contact with another language variety or other speakers)

  11. Language change in progress Examples of Researches • Chambers & Trudgill (1980) • Labov’s work - Martha’s Vineyard –Wardhaugh (pg.197) • Trudgill’s work in Norwich

  12. Why do languages change? Linguistic Reasons: • articulation • analogy

  13. Why do languages change? Social Reasons: • geographical movement • invention (e.g. wheel, camera) • imperfect learning • prestige

  14. CHANGE FROM ABOVE/CHANGE FROM BELOW (Labov) • Change from above – dominant, high status group influences patterns of speech. • Change from below - the lower class/group (subordinate group)influences patterns of speech

More Related