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Language change 1. Physiological basis a. insertion aemtig (p) empty b. deletion sendan (d) > sent c. assimilation OE wifman > Mod. E woman , OE c~ped >Mod.E kept e
Language change 1. Physiological basis a. insertion aemtig (p) empty b. deletion sendan (d) > sent c. assimilation OE wifman > Mod. E woman , OE c~ped >Mod.E kept e
physiological
Causes of language change 2. Cognitive basis a. analogy ring, rang, rung”, “sing-sang-sung”, “bring” become “brang” and “brung as (stanas, “stones”), -en (nama, “names”), -u (scipu, “ships”), and -a (suna, “sons”) were replaced by “-es b. re-analyis hamburger > cheeseburger ,“an adder” (“serpent”, “snake”, apron > napkin, nounpere > umpire, efata > newt, ekename > nickname, asphodelos > daffodil, de/disport > sport, c. folk etymology asparagus > sparrowgrass, femina > female, masculus > male, berfroi > belfry, cucaracha > cockroach, muskrat (musquash), helpmate (help meet), cesspool (cessperalle) Hungarian examples: tubarózsa, kárókatona, durrdefekt, hóhányó, vérfarkas
Causes of language change 2. Cognitive basis a. analogy ring, rang, rung”, “sing-sang-sung”, “bring” become “brang” and “brung as (stanas, “stones”), -en (nama, “names”), -u (scipu, “ships”), and -a (suna, “sons”) were replaced by “-es b. re-analyis hamburger > cheeseburger ,“an adder” (“serpent”, “snake”, apron > napkin, nounpere > umpire, efata > newt, ekename > nickname, asphodelos > daffodil, de/disport > sport, c. folk etymology asparagus > sparrowgrass, femina > female, masculus > male, berfroi > belfry, cucaracha > cockroach, muskrat (musquash), helpmate (help meet), cesspool (cessperalle) Hungarian examples: tubarózsa, kárókatona, durrdefekt, hóhányó, vérfarkas
cognitive
Causes of language change 3. Language contact a. substratum: The influence of a politically inferior language on a superior one. Gaelic words in English: whisky, kilt, shamrock, hooligan, bog, bard, clan, slogan, trousers b. adstratum: The influence of an “equal” language on another one. Viking: take, get, give, bake, skirt, skin, skip, and sky c. superstratum: When a dominant language spreads words in an “inferior” one.
Causes of language change 3. Language contact a. substratum: The influence of a politically inferior language on a superior one. Gaelic words in English: whisky, kilt, shamrock, hooligan, bog, bard, clan, slogan, trousers b. adstratum: The influence of an “equal” language on another one. Viking: take, get, give, bake, skirt, skin, skip, and sky c. superstratum: When a dominant language spreads words in an “inferior” one.
language contact
Study Notes
Physiological Basis of Language Change
- Insertion and assimilation can cause language change, e.g., OE wifman > Mod.E woman, OE c~ped > Mod.E kept
- Deletion can also lead to language change, e.g., sendan > sent
Cognitive Basis of Language Change
- Analogy can cause language change, e.g., "ring, rang, rung", "sing-sang-sung", "bring" becoming "brang" and "brung"
- Re-analysis of words can lead to language change, e.g., hamburger > cheeseburger, "an adder" > "serpent" > "snake"
- Folk etymology can also cause language change, e.g., asparagus > sparrowgrass, femina > female, masculus > male
Language Contact
- Substratum influence: a politically inferior language influences a superior one, e.g., Gaelic words in English: whisky, kilt, shamrock, hooligan, bog, bard, clan, slogan, trousers
- Adstratum influence: an "equal" language influences another one, e.g., Viking influence on English: take, get, give, bake, skirt, skin, skip, and sky
- Superstratum influence: a dominant language spreads words to an "inferior" one, e.g., Hungarian examples: tubarózsa, kárókatona, durrdefekt, hóhányó, vérfarkas
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Description
Test your knowledge on the causes of language change, including physiological and cognitive bases. Identify changes such as insertion, deletion, assimilation, analogy, and re-analysis.
