paper 2 questions

‘evaluate the idea that the English language has been decaying over time and continues to do so.’ [30] 45 minutes

• theories on the idea and how you respond to them

• intro: explore what the view means - define the terms, and what it implies.

Prescriptivists tend to agree with the sentiment that the English language has been decaying over time, and continues to do so. Prescriptivists believe that standard forms of language should be used rather than non-standard forms, as they view them as lesser than their standard counterparts. Descriptivists, on the other hand, welcome language change 

Aitchison: crumbling castle, damp spoon, infectious disease

‘evaluate the idea that language variation has decreased over time’

Language variation is the idea regional, social, and contextual factors affect the use of language. It can be argued that the rise of social media has played a role in a reduction of these linguistic differences, due to the homogenisation of language, such as through slang and dialect levelling.

specific evidence

‘evaluate the idea that the English language has been decaying over time and continues to do so.’ 

printing press - william caxton standardisation of english was a factor in prescriptivism

Aitchison: metaphors to describe prescriptivism

the damp spoon syndrome:

• metaphor meaning - language change happens because people are lazy or careless

• prescriptivist view - language is decaying as speakers can’t be bothered to use it properly

• Aitchison’s view - the view is false as its due to efficiency rather than laziness

• e.g. texting slang; Humphrys dislikes it, but people can code switch and use standard language when needed.

Milroy says only possible time for Golden Age was between 1940 and 1965, but seems unlikely.

In1950’s less than 20 universities nationwide. You would think therefore there is less likely to have been a “Golden Age” of language then than today when we have some few hundred universities.

language decay is a recurring social pattern rather than real linguistic change

pronouns thee and thou from Shakespeare no longer used - language change doesn’t equal language decay

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