Language Variation and Language Change Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts from Chapters 7 and 8, including language variation, dialect, historical linguistics, and phonological changes like Grimm's Law and the Great Vowel Shift.

What is language variation?

Language variation refers to the fact that people do not use a language in exactly the same way, with differences appearing in pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and syntax.

How is a dialect defined in the context of language variation?

A dialect is a particular variety of a language characterized by differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, or grammar, often associated with a region, social group, or ethnic group.

What is an idiolect?

An idiolect is the specific way an individual speaker uses language, including unique differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and style.

Distinguish between mutual and one-way intelligibility.

Mutual intelligibility means speakers of two varieties can understand each other, while one-way intelligibility occurs when only one group understands the other more easily than the reverse.

What determines whether a language variety is considered 'Standard'?

A standard variety is determined by social and institutional prestige (e.g., schools, government, and media) rather than linguistic superiority.

What did William Labov's study of /r/ pronunciation in New York City demonstrate?

It showed that pronunciation varies according to social status, context, and formality, proving language variation is connected to social factors.

What is hypercorrection?

Hypercorrection occurs when a speaker tries to use a form considered more prestigious or 'correct' but applies it incorrectly or in an inappropriate context.

In Inner-City English (ICE), what does the 'invariant be' indicate?

The 'invariant be' indicates a habitual or repeated action or state, rather than something occurring only at the present moment.

What is the difference between dialect and style?

Dialect refers to a specific variety of language, while style refers to linguistic variation that changes according to context, audience, and formality.

Contrast synchronic and diachronic language study.

Synchronic study examines a language at one specific point in time, whereas diachronic study examines language across time to focus on historical development.

What is the comparative method in historical linguistics?

The comparative method establishes historical relationships among languages by identifying systematic sound correspondences across many words with related meanings.

According to Grimm's Law, what are some systematic consonant changes in Germanic languages?

Systematic changes include: $p \rightarrow f$, $t \rightarrow \theta$, $k \rightarrow h$, and $b \rightarrow p$, $d \rightarrow t$, $g \rightarrow k$.

What major historical event in 1066 led to a significant French influence on English vocabulary?

The Norman Conquest.

What was the Great Vowel Shift?

A major series of changes affecting English long vowels during the transition from Middle English to Modern English, affecting pronunciation and spelling.

Define semantic narrowing and semantic broadening.

Narrowing makes a word's meaning more specific (e.g., 'hound'), while broadening makes it more general (e.g., 'dog').

Does language change imply that a language is decaying or becoming worse?

No; linguists reject the idea of decay, viewing language change as a normal development where languages remain capable of expressing complex ideas.

How are language variation and language change connected?

Variation represents differences at a specific time; when those differences spread through a community over time, they become language change.