Language change
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Language change is studied by both historical linguists and sociolinguists. It occurs over time through various processes including: incremental changes that become standard, decremental changes when words are less used, and replacement of words or structures. Changes happen at different linguistic levels and for various social reasons, such as imperfect learning by children, laziness leading to shortening of words, and differences between gender speech.
Language change
- 2. Language Change Studied by both historical linguists and sociolinguists Diachronic Change – Hstorical Linguists the change of languages over time e.g. Old English Middle English Modern English Synchronic Change - Sociolinguists the origins or the causes of language changes how language changes with society or in particular period e.g. Punjabi in Pakistan and Punjabi in India
- 3. According to Jean Aitchison, language change occurs in three ways - Progress - Decay - Neither Could be both Conscious and Unconscious e.g. Loss of Rhotic ‘r’ – Unconscious Could be Natural or Social e.g. /b/ sound lost in ‘thumb’ – natural
- 5. Incremental Used for inventions or items of knowledge Become standard e.g “Selfie”, “emoji” added in dictionaries Native Laantain – lantern TV Mobile Picnic Park Menu
- 6. Decremental Words not used anymore because of the less usage of the object E.g. words related to swordfighting are not used often ‘pary’ and ‘feint’ Native Zarra baktar Manjeek – pathar phainkne wali toop
- 7. Replacement - replacements of words or structures coexists in language correct both ways e.g half – halfs – halves thievery – theft rise – rose – raised NAtive Pistol – tamancha School – madrassa Train – gaari Kitaab – Kutab - Kitabain
- 9. Social Status people of higher status introduce changes later considered prestigious Native Burger – bun kabab Fries - Chips pronunciation of ‘career’ Baba/’Papa– Abu
- 10. Interaction / Contact Borrowing Isolation slows process of change Interaction increases influences on other languages Sushi – Japan Native Gulluband – Farsi - Necklace Bandar gah – Farsi - seaport Mayuun – hindi
- 11. Dialectal Change Difference in vocabulary or pronunciation due to difference in dialects e.g Autumn – fall lift – elevator /r/ sound at the end and ‘schedule’ Native Shaljam – Thippar (Hazara) – Gongloo (Lahore) Bahaar – Basant (Lahore) Piyo(Lahore) – Lala (Hazara)
- 12. Gender Difference between speech of men and women Women introduce more standard forms – beautiful, sweet Men introduce vernacular forms – cool, wicked Women categorize – married/teenager/mrs/miss Native Gaari – Daala/car/totta/mazda/jeep Chacha – Uncle
- 13. Women – picky more accurate terms Men – simplistic
- 14. Laziness Occurs mainly because of laziness Shortening or Combining Become widely accepted – Standard I am - I’m Going to – Gonna Native Assalamoalikum – Salam Bismillah
- 15. Imperfect Learning Children learn adult forms imperfectly Majority usage - New strandard Native Mehendi – Minhadi
- 16. Culture / Tradition New places, situations, objects Does not matter where they go Native Examples Lassi Lacha Charkha Chahti
- 18. Levels of Changes Changes occur on the following levels Phonological (sounds) Syntactic (structure) Semantic (meaning) Lexical (words)
- 19. Phonological Complex Not sudden – happens over time Examples Same vowel rule (~a rule) pen ~ pin in some English dialects – not necessary ‘s’ sound at the end of Spanish words como ehtas / ehtah Native Sajjan – Sajan Minhadi – Mehendi Gojarwalan – Gujranwala Kilachi - Kirachi
- 20. Lexical Change Change in the words and vocabulary used Addition of suffixes/prefixes to make new words breakable, thinkable, touchable, etc Addition of ‘s’ and ‘-es’ drink – drinks box – boxes Native Subh – Subhu – Subha Sabza – Sabzazar Deewankhana – Bethak – Drawing room
- 21. Syntactic Change Changes in word order Double negation – no longer part of English Old English - ne aux – not never Contracted negatives – Old English knew not – didn’t know Comparatives – Old English most shamefullest, more happier Native Phone karo – Phone lgao Film lagi hui he – Film chal rahi he
- 22. Semantic Change Changes related to meanings Broadening Dogge -– specific breed - all dogs Narrowing deer -– any beast - specific animal Opposite Sick – Good Native Bandar/gah – Bandargah Sikh – foolish Akhrot Bera tar jaye Bala (musibat) – Every bad thing
- 23. Conclusion Languages do change Follows certain processes