language change key words

bidialectism

the use of the national standard and regional dialect

standardisation

making all variations of language conform to one version

young cuckoo process

new words slowly get used more than the old and eventually the new words will replace the old

wave model

explains how changes diffuse through geographical and social space, like ripples on a pond

reflectionism

the idea that language changes in response to changes in our thoughts

codification

the establishment of spelling and grammar rules for language

obsolete

a word that is no longer used

colloquialisation

where writing uses language more typically seen in spoken register

drift

the slow shifting of a word’s meaning over time

etymological argument

basis for criticising any use of words such as decimate with a more general sense than their original meaning

the Queen’s egnlish society

represent an autocratic movement and are prescriptive in their view of language and language change

substratum theory

explains how a dominant incoming language is altered by contact with a native language

lexical gaps

the theory that a new word or meaning creates room in the lexicon for related forms e.g. brexit - brexiter, brexiting

s-curve model

model that describes the speed at which a new word or meaning grows in use e.g. a gradual start, then rapid increase, then levelling off