language change terminology revision
TRANSCRIPT
Borrowing
These are also called Loan words
Words borrowed from another language
Barbecue comes from Spanish
Bungalow comes from Hindustani
Scientific Progress New words and phrases invented because of advances in medicine, science and technology
in vitro fertilization (1970s)
Affixation New prefixes or suffixes are added to existing words
Greek word hyper
Hyperactive, hypersensitive hypertension
Compounding Two separate words are combined to create one new one
Thumb and print to create thumbprint
Hand and bag to create handbag
Blending Two separate words are blended together
Infotainment is a blend of information and entertainment
Satnav is a blend ofSatellite and navigation
Clipping – dropping of syllables to create an abbreviation (demo/demonstration)
Initialism – FBI, OTT
Acronyms – NASA, WAGS
Back-formation – Suffix is removed to create a new word (baby-sitter becomes baby-sit)
Eponyms – words derived from people's namesJean Nicot sent tobacco seeds back to FranceNicotine
Brand names – Kleenex, Xeroxed
PlacesLimousin (France)Limousine
A word develops a more positive meaning
Nice used to mean foolish
A word develops a more negative meaning
Hussy used to mean the same as housewife
Pejoration
Old peopleDisabled peopleHalf-casteToilet cleanerActress
Senior citizensPeople with disabilitiesMixed raceSanitation consultantActor
Sayings that do not make literal sense (its raining cats and dogs)
They usually have some factual, literary or historical basis
As happy as Larry
The past tense of some irregular verbs used to be formed differently –over time the stem vowels have changed
Spake has become spoke in PDE (Present Day English)
Auxiliary verbs (do) started to be used more from 1700. This had an impact on word order
Spake you with him?Did you speak with him?
Comparative and superlative inflections (greater and greatest) exist in PDE as they did before
But ... In the nineteenth century properest was grammatically acceptable.
What would you use now?
Most proper
Until the eighteenth century nouns were often capitalised.
Less use of the definite article ( Russian instead of the Russian)
Since 1700 sentences tend to have become shorter and syntax less complicated.
Sentences contain far fewer subordinate clauses now.
Common in early 18th century
Second half of the twentieth century made a comeback in less formal texts
18th century writers thought them inelegant
By the nineteenth century they had become less common
Unfashionable
Today “I don’t want nothing” is considered non-standard
Eighteenth century grammarians decided double negatives should not be used
Robert Lowth used mathematical logic to argue double negatives were not acceptable
Nouns like text, email, Facebook have become verbs
Adjectives sometimes used instead of adverbs (I’m good instead of I’m well)
Use of intensifying adverb before an adjective (that was well good)
Innit – isn’t it or can’t we?I’m so not ready for this.
From 17th century s was often written as ????This was based on the handwriting style of the period.
Capitalisation was used by writers for a range of reasons, including to emphasise words.
Leading (line spacing) is very dense
Text is smallNo photos or
illustrationsAll black and white
Text much less denseRange of colourNon-standard
typographyInformation about what
is inside the newspaper
2009
Decorative illustrationsTitleDense printBlack and white
Glossy photographsDifferent font typescolours
2009