LANGUAGE CHANGE: THE SYLLABLES OF TIME
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The document discusses the extensive nature of language change in English, highlighting shifts in phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics over time. It provides examples of historical texts such as Beowulf, Chaucer, and Shakespeare to illustrate the evolution of the language from Old English to Modern English, alongside factors driving linguistic changes. Additionally, it touches on processes of lexical expansion through borrowing, word formation rules, and semantic shifts.
![Sound correspondences
× The result of phonological changes that affect certain
sounds, or classes of sounds, rather than individual
words.
× can also account for dialect or regional differences,
EX: IN MIDDLE ENGLISH, Mouse [maʊs] is pronounced müs [mu:s]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/linglangpresentationcomplete-180213175023/85/LANGUAGE-CHANGE-THE-SYLLABLES-OF-TIME-9-320.jpg)
![× Regular sound correspondences bring changes in the phonological
system.
× Example: the the velar fricative /x/. Night → [nɪxt] and drought →
[druxt].
× All words that were once pronounced with an /x/ no longer include this
sound. In some cases, the /x/ became a /k/, as in elk (eolh [ɛɔlx]). In
other cases it disappeared altogether to be replaced by a vowel, as in
hollow (holh [hↄlx]).](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/linglangpresentationcomplete-180213175023/85/LANGUAGE-CHANGE-THE-SYLLABLES-OF-TIME-13-320.jpg)
![× An allophone of a phoneme may become a separate phoneme
and adding to the phonemic inventory.
× For example, Old English lacked the /v/ phoneme. The phoneme
/f/ however, had the allophone [v] when it occurred between
two vowels. And so ofer /ofer/ meaning ‘over’ was pronounced
[ɔvər].
× Speakers perceive the two sounds as separate phonemes, in
effect creating a new phoneme /v/](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/linglangpresentationcomplete-180213175023/85/LANGUAGE-CHANGE-THE-SYLLABLES-OF-TIME-14-320.jpg)
![× In between 1400 and 1600,
something happened that
resulted in new phonemic
representations of words
and morphemes.
× The Great Vowel Shift is a
primary source of so
many spelling
inconsistencies of English
because the current
spelling system still
reflects the way words
used to be pronounced.
Middle english Modern english
[iː] [aɪ]
[uː] [aʊ]
[e:] [i:]
[o:] [u:]
[ɛː] [e:]
[ɔː] [ɔː]
[a:] [e:]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/linglangpresentationcomplete-180213175023/85/LANGUAGE-CHANGE-THE-SYLLABLES-OF-TIME-17-320.jpg)
![Historical Linguistics
• These historical records are studied to find out how languages were
once pronounced.
For example; the versions of English in Shakespeare or Chaucer or
the author of Beowulf.
• Another great example;
- [English history] all words spelled with “er” were pronounced as if
they are spelled with “ar” like perfect pronounced as parfet.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/linglangpresentationcomplete-180213175023/85/LANGUAGE-CHANGE-THE-SYLLABLES-OF-TIME-34-320.jpg)
LANGUAGE CHANGE: THE SYLLABLES OF TIME
- 1. Hello!ZAIDAH BINTI JEFRI (A166785) SHALENI KAVIRAJAN (A163485)
- 2. LANGUAGE CHAnge The syllables of time
- 3. Language change is extensive, taking place in virtually all aspects of the grammar --- in phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and such. Language change is never an overnight occurrence, otherwise, communication would be impossible.
- 4. English has been a written language for more than 13,000 yrs. Old English is scarcely recognizable in the modern world. Example: Beowulf: wolde guman findan þone þe him on sweofote sare geteode. 'He wanted to find the man who harmed him while he slept.'
- 5. Approximately 500 years after Beowulf, Chaucer wrote the Canterbury tales in what is now called Middle English, spoken from around 1100 to 1500. When that Aprille with his shoures soote The droght of March hath perced to the roote... 'When April with its sweet showers The drought of March has pierced to the root...'
- 6. 200 yEArs after Chaucer, Shakespeare WROTE, in his work, Hamlet: A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm.
- 8. tHE REGULARITY OF SOUND CHANGE
- 9. Sound correspondences × The result of phonological changes that affect certain sounds, or classes of sounds, rather than individual words. × can also account for dialect or regional differences, EX: IN MIDDLE ENGLISH, Mouse [maʊs] is pronounced müs [mu:s]
- 12. English /f/ FATHER FISH FRENCH /P/ PADRE POISSON CAN’T BE A COINCIDENCE?
- 13. × Regular sound correspondences bring changes in the phonological system. × Example: the the velar fricative /x/. Night → [nɪxt] and drought → [druxt]. × All words that were once pronounced with an /x/ no longer include this sound. In some cases, the /x/ became a /k/, as in elk (eolh [ɛɔlx]). In other cases it disappeared altogether to be replaced by a vowel, as in hollow (holh [hↄlx]).
- 14. × An allophone of a phoneme may become a separate phoneme and adding to the phonemic inventory. × For example, Old English lacked the /v/ phoneme. The phoneme /f/ however, had the allophone [v] when it occurred between two vowels. And so ofer /ofer/ meaning ‘over’ was pronounced [ɔvər]. × Speakers perceive the two sounds as separate phonemes, in effect creating a new phoneme /v/
- 15. × This may result in lexicon changes → dialect differences. × Example: r-dropping rule (not pronounced after a vowel.) × British English and of American English dialects spoken in the northeastern and the southern United States.
- 17. × In between 1400 and 1600, something happened that resulted in new phonemic representations of words and morphemes. × The Great Vowel Shift is a primary source of so many spelling inconsistencies of English because the current spelling system still reflects the way words used to be pronounced. Middle english Modern english [iː] [aɪ] [uː] [aʊ] [e:] [i:] [o:] [u:] [ɛː] [e:] [ɔː] [ɔː] [a:] [e:]
- 19. × Old english had extensive case systems expressed through noun suffixing. × Modern English retain some semblance to them. × Nominative (he, she), genitive (his, hers), dative and accusative (him/her).
- 20. × Old english had extensive case systems expressed through noun suffixing. × Modern English retain some semblance to them. × Nominative (he, she), genitive (his, hers), dative and accusative (him/her).
- 21. LEXICAL CHANGE Borrowings New words Loss of words
- 22. • The history of English lexical expansion is heavily characterized with heavy borrowing of words or morphemes from other languages. • Direct & Indirect borrowing For example; a) Direct borrowing – Feast borrowed directly from French & can be traced back to Latin festum. b) Indirect borrowing – Algebra -> Spanish -> Arabic (Spanish as an intermediary). • Examples of loan words; i) French – government(gouvernement), crown(couronne), beef(boeuf), mutton(mouton),etc ii) Greek – drama, comedy, tragedy, scene, botany, zoology, physics and anatomy, etc iii) Scandinavian – they, their, them, etc
- 23. Word formati on rules Coina ge Abbreviatio n Blendin g Compoundin g Clippin g Back- formatio n Acrony m Derivati on NEW WORDS ● New words which are added to English can also be formed by using word formation rules.
- 24. ❑Compounding - is a process of combining two or more words into one lexical unit. ❑ For example; - afternoon, bigmouth, egghead, chickenhearted, railroad, etc ❑ Derivation - process by which words are formed by the addition of affixes to the roots, stems or words. ❑ For example; - nation -> national -> nationalize -> nationalization -> internationalization
- 25. ❑ Acronym - process of creating a word by combining the initials of a number of words. ❑ For example; - VIP (very important person) - OPEC (organization of petroleum exporting countries) ❑ Blending - process of forming a new word by combining parts of other words. ❑ For example; - medicare (medical + care) - smog (smoke + fog) - brunch (breakfast + lunch)
- 26. ❑ Abbreviation - is a shortened form of word or phrase which represents the complete form. ❑ For example; - kg (kilogram) - TV (television) - Mr (Mister) - Dr (doctor) ❑ Clipping - is kind of abbreviation of otherwise longer word or phrases. ❑ For example; - gym (gymnasium) - copter (helicopter) - zoo (zoological garden)
- 27. ❑ Back-formation - is a process by which new words are formed by taking away the suffix of an existing word. ❑ For example; - enthuse (enthusiasm) - burgle (burglar) - babysit (babysitter) ❑ Coinage - refers to the invention of new word often from the brand-name or trade-mark of a product. ❑ For example; - Kleenex for facial tissue; to wipe a face with Kleenex
- 28. • CHANGES IN SOCIETY can cause lexical items often fall into disuse because the object or notion they refer to has become obsolete. • A word lost through INATTENTION • For example; - Shakespeare (Romeo & Juliet) -> beseem = “to be suitable” -> wot = “to know” -> wherefore “why”
- 29. o As a language may gain or lose lexical items additionally the meaning or semantic representations of words may change, shift or become broader or narrower.
- 30. Word Past Meaning Present Meaning Dog A kind of hunting dog Any kind of dog Manage Handle a horse Handle anything Holiday A holy day Any day off SEMANTIC BROADENING • Refers to the process in which the meaning of a word becomes more general or inclusive than its historically earlier denotation. • For example;
- 31. Word Past Meaning Present Meaning Deer Beast or animal A particular kind of animal Hound (German “Hund”) Any kind of dog A dog used for hunting Semantic Narrowing • Is a process in which a word becomes less general or inclusive than its earlier meaning. • For example;
- 32. Word Past Meaning Present Meaning Nice Ignorant Pleasant Board A piece of timber A council or authoritative body Fond Foolish Loving, affectionate Semantic Shift • Is a process of semantic change in which a word loses its former meaning and acquires new, sometimes related meaning. • For example;
- 33. Causes of Language Change • No one is able to provide a consistent account for the exact causes of ALL the language change. • Although most linguists believe that physiological, linguistic or sociological factors contribute to language change. • Study of linguistic change = Historical and comparative linguistics • Historical -> because it deals with history of particular languages. • Comparative -> because it deals with relations between languages.
- 34. Historical Linguistics • These historical records are studied to find out how languages were once pronounced. For example; the versions of English in Shakespeare or Chaucer or the author of Beowulf. • Another great example; - [English history] all words spelled with “er” were pronounced as if they are spelled with “ar” like perfect pronounced as parfet.
- 35. • This method of analyzing languages is known as the comparative method, and linguists using it are referred to as comparative linguists. • study of the relationships or correspondences between two or more languages and the techniques used to discover whether the languages have a common ancestor.
- 36. Proto- Germanic English German Dutch Danish Norwegian Swedish
- 39. • Through comparative method, linguists find sound correspondence and build cognates. • A cognate is a word related genetically to other words that together form set of cognates descending from proto language • For instance; pater (Latin) pitar (Sanskrit) father (English) the sound correspondence p-p-f shows that the languages are genetically related (Indo-European)
- 41. Language Change • The changes are more gradual, particularly changes in the phonological and syntactic system. • A basic cause of change is the way children acquire the language • The need to create new word and expression to refer to newly developed concepts & new things. • For example; - younger generations tend to use fridge while older generations prefers icebox.
- 42. THANKS!