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Questions and Answers
Lexical change involves the evolution of pronunciations in language.
Lexical change involves the evolution of pronunciations in language.
False
The grammatical level of language change includes morphological and syntactic changes.
The grammatical level of language change includes morphological and syntactic changes.
True
Language shift usually occurs within a single generation.
Language shift usually occurs within a single generation.
False
In South Sumatra, children in the 1970s commonly used their local language.
In South Sumatra, children in the 1970s commonly used their local language.
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Social changes can trigger a language shift in a community.
Social changes can trigger a language shift in a community.
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All immigrants in the United States maintain their native languages indefinitely.
All immigrants in the United States maintain their native languages indefinitely.
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The Cornish speakers in England have not experienced a language shift.
The Cornish speakers in England have not experienced a language shift.
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Bilingualism among immigrants can lead to a gradual shift to the local language.
Bilingualism among immigrants can lead to a gradual shift to the local language.
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Syntactic change refers to modifications in the sound system of a language.
Syntactic change refers to modifications in the sound system of a language.
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Internal creation of new lexical items can include shifts in meaning within the same phonemic structure.
Internal creation of new lexical items can include shifts in meaning within the same phonemic structure.
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Semantic change refers to the borrowing of words from other languages.
Semantic change refers to the borrowing of words from other languages.
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The shift from Indonesian to Portuguese in East Timor was politically motivated.
The shift from Indonesian to Portuguese in East Timor was politically motivated.
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Language change types include lexical, grammatical, and dialectical changes.
Language change types include lexical, grammatical, and dialectical changes.
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Immigrants typically retain the use of their native language even among their children.
Immigrants typically retain the use of their native language even among their children.
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Language change is studied primarily by historical linguists and sociolinguists.
Language change is studied primarily by historical linguists and sociolinguists.
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Sociolinguistic explanations propose that age has no impact on linguistic behavior.
Sociolinguistic explanations propose that age has no impact on linguistic behavior.
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The principle of least effort often leads to a reduction of language complexity.
The principle of least effort often leads to a reduction of language complexity.
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Language acquisition by children is thought to be a minor source of language change.
Language acquisition by children is thought to be a minor source of language change.
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Analogical semantic change occurs when irregular words are modified to resemble regular forms.
Analogical semantic change occurs when irregular words are modified to resemble regular forms.
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Languages often influence each other through the exchange of vocabulary when there exists a lexical gap.
Languages often influence each other through the exchange of vocabulary when there exists a lexical gap.
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Historical change in language is only studied in the context of past language forms.
Historical change in language is only studied in the context of past language forms.
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The verb 'thrive' is becoming more regular in its conjugation.
The verb 'thrive' is becoming more regular in its conjugation.
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Study Notes
Language Change
- Language change is a multifaceted phenomenon, studied by historical and sociolinguists.
- It involves variations in phonetic, morphological, semantic, and syntactic features over time.
- Historical linguistics examines diachronic change, tracing language evolution and relationships.
- Language change is driven by several factors:
- Economy: The principle of least effort (e.g., contractions like "she's," "we've been")
- Analogy: Irregular words becoming regular (e.g., "livid" changing meaning due to sound similarity to "vivid") impacting morphology (e.g., "thrive" becoming more regular)
- Language Contact: Languages exchange words, often due to lexical gaps or perceived prestige (e.g., French loanwords in English).
- Language Acquisition: Children's differing inner grammars can lead to changes. Language change can also occur with adults.
- Sociolinguistic Factors: Age groups' language use reflects their social class and situation (e.g., formality).
- Types of language change:
-
Lexical Change: Alterations in word meaning.
- Loss of words (e.g., "refrigerator" becoming "fridge").
- Changes in meaning (semantic change)
- Creation of new words (internal or external)
-
Grammatical Change: Modifications to grammar and vocabulary structure (morphemes).
- Morphological changes (English plurals for "cow" shifting )
- Syntactic changes (words taking on new grammatical functions)
- Phonemic Change: Alterations in pronunciation (e.g., vowel shifts).
-
Lexical Change: Alterations in word meaning.
Language Shift
- Language shift is a complete change in the language used by a speech community.
- It typically occurs across generations.
- Language shift can be seen in many demographics, particularly younger people:
- Indonesia’s shift from local languages to Indonesian (e.g. Javanese, Maduranese)
- South Sumatra's decreased use of local language (especially among children).
- East Timor's shift from Indonesian to Portuguese
- Factors that may influence Language Shift:
- Social changes in a community
- Political events and policies
- Immigrant groups also commonly shift to the dominant language. (e.g. Immigration to US, and shifting to English).
- Stages of language shift in immigrants:
- Initial monolingual use of the native language.
- Bilingual use, blending the languages.
- Shift to monolingual use of the new language, within the next generation
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