language control

PCM is based on the linguistic determinism theory (Sapir-Whorf) that the language/s we use affects not just the messages we communicate, but the fundamental ways that we think or act. Therefore if we use racist or sexist language then we will hold sexist/racist views

criticism: we can still find ways of expressing an idea, for which a word does not exist, using existing words. otherwise how could anyone ever have an original thought or invent something.

reflectivism is the inverse of linguistic determinsim. It holds that language is shaped by our thoughts and reflects how we think.

Steven Pinker’s idea of the euphemism treadmill supports his theory as each new word chosen to replace one which has gained negative connotations will in turn need to be replaced.

e.g. rapid deterioratopm of words denoting old like geriatric and senile, once respectful terms for ones elders, have negative connotations in the 21st century

donald mackinnon - 1996

language can be seen as:

• correct or incorrect

• pleasant or ugly

• socially/morally acceptable or not

• appropriate or inappropriate

• useful to us or useless

these ideas change very rapidly

reappropriation - reclaiming a word or phrase that has come to mean something insulting and using it as if it is normal or even complimentary. this denies others ability to learn it

e.g. queer turning from an insult into a label for an identity

oppositions: restricts freedom of speech. focus should be on changing laws to rpotect women etc rather than the language

standardisation

benefits:

1. greater comprehension

2. makes it easier to learn

3. easier to determine what is a word/error

4. makes it easier to communicate across different groups

5. acts as a norm/standard in broadcasting and wide spread speech

6. slows the pace of change

drawbacks:

1. hard to control

2. english standard spellings are not phonetic or consistent

3. lack of flexibility

4. any deviation from the standard may leave the speaker/writer open to judgement

caxton’s printing press - 1476

• first printing press so no longer a reliance on human’s to copy things out so less room for errors

• identical copies of text could be produced

  • any mistakes made in printing were becoming standardised

    • reducing characters made it cheaper

    • errors in setting up printer e.g. h in ghost

• he chose the dialect being used in courts, Cambridge university and in London at the time

• using it in printed texts gave the dialects a further feeling of prestige

Johnsons dictionary - 1755

• not teh first, but the largest comprehension of all the words being used

• helped standardise spelling and meanings - provided a standard reference point

• initially hoped to fix variation in English spelling, but realised language is ever changing and he should describe it not prescribe it

• influential: “one of teh greatest single achievements of scholaship” influenced the Oxford English Dictionary we see now

The establishment of a standard form of English meant attention turned to grammar rules in the 18th and 19th century

• correct grammar began to be associated with social status

• bad grammar was seen as a sign of lower social status

  • therefore the desire for correct grammar led to the explosion of grammar guides

Robert Lowth - 1762

• leading prescriptivist figure

• grounded his grammar rules in Latin, inspired by Jonathan Swift

• book was so successful it had to be reissued 45 times in 38 years

• rules:

  • pronoun thou shall no longer be used

  • will and shall should be distinguished between

  • prepositions should never end sentences

  • the infinitive verb should not be split

  • who and whom should be distinguished between

  • multiple negation and multiple comparison is illogical

  • prepositions should go before the noun

  • when en follows a vowel, the e should be dropped, like drawn not drawen

The King’s English Society - founded in 1972

• provide what they deem to be a useful guide to English on their website

• they treat english as though it is an object to be defended and owner (metaphor with dangerous implications of nationalism)

• rules:

  • double negatives are illogical

  • personal pronouns should be in the correct form and order