Language change theories

Language change theories

1. Language decay

   • Jean Aitchison
     • Damp-spoon syndrome
       • Laziness
       • Language sloppier now
       • similar to leaving damp spoon in sugar
     • Crumbling castle
       • Glottal stop
       • Silent letters
         • "Knight"
         • "Government"
         • "Receipt"
   • Lynne Truss
     • Eats, shoots, and leaves
     • Hypercorrect punctuation
     • Prescriptivist

2. Social bonding theory

   • William Labov (USA)
     • Social groups change words to create dialect
       • "Youth" --> "Yoth"

3. Global English

   • David Crystal
     • Polydialectalism
       • Bi-dialectalism
         • Speaking a local language and national
       • Tri-dialectalism

4. Norman Fairclough

   • Conversationalism
     • Modern English more 'chatty'
     • Use of 'you'
     • More relevant with TV/internet