2. Language Change
Studied by both historical linguists and sociolinguists
Diachronic Change – Hstorical Linguists
the change of languages over time
e.g. Old English Middle English Modern English
Synchronic Change - Sociolinguists
the origins or the causes of language changes
how language changes with society or in particular period
e.g. Punjabi in Pakistan and Punjabi in India
3. According to Jean Aitchison, language change
occurs in three ways
- Progress
- Decay
- Neither
Could be both Conscious and Unconscious
e.g. Loss of Rhotic ‘r’ – Unconscious
Could be Natural or Social
e.g. /b/ sound lost in ‘thumb’ – natural
4.
5. Incremental
Used for inventions or items of knowledge
Become standard
e.g “Selfie”, “emoji” added in dictionaries
Native
Laantain – lantern
TV
Mobile
Picnic
Park
Menu
6. Decremental
Words not used anymore because of the less usage
of the object
E.g. words related to swordfighting are not used often
‘pary’ and ‘feint’
Native
Zarra baktar
Manjeek – pathar phainkne wali toop
7. Replacement
- replacements of words or structures
coexists in language
correct both ways
e.g
half – halfs – halves
thievery – theft
rise – rose – raised
NAtive
Pistol – tamancha
School – madrassa
Train – gaari
Kitaab – Kutab - Kitabain
8.
9. Social Status
people of higher status introduce changes
later considered prestigious
Native
Burger – bun kabab
Fries - Chips
pronunciation of ‘career’
Baba/’Papa– Abu
10. Interaction / Contact
Borrowing
Isolation slows process of change
Interaction increases influences on other languages
Sushi – Japan
Native
Gulluband – Farsi - Necklace
Bandar gah – Farsi - seaport
Mayuun – hindi
11. Dialectal Change
Difference in vocabulary or pronunciation due to
difference in dialects
e.g
Autumn – fall
lift – elevator
/r/ sound at the end and ‘schedule’
Native
Shaljam – Thippar (Hazara) – Gongloo (Lahore)
Bahaar – Basant (Lahore)
Piyo(Lahore) – Lala (Hazara)
12. Gender
Difference between speech of men and women
Women introduce more standard
forms – beautiful, sweet
Men introduce vernacular forms – cool, wicked
Women categorize – married/teenager/mrs/miss
Native
Gaari – Daala/car/totta/mazda/jeep
Chacha – Uncle
13. Women – picky
more accurate
terms
Men – simplistic
14. Laziness
Occurs mainly because of laziness
Shortening or Combining
Become widely accepted – Standard
I am - I’m
Going to – Gonna
Native
Assalamoalikum – Salam
Bismillah
15. Imperfect Learning
Children learn adult forms imperfectly
Majority usage - New strandard
Native
Mehendi – Minhadi
16. Culture / Tradition
New places, situations, objects
Does not matter where they go
Native Examples
Lassi
Lacha
Charkha
Chahti
17.
18. Levels of Changes
Changes occur on the following levels
Phonological (sounds)
Syntactic (structure)
Semantic (meaning)
Lexical (words)
19. Phonological
Complex
Not sudden – happens over time
Examples
Same vowel rule (~a rule)
pen ~ pin in some English dialects – not necessary
‘s’ sound at the end of Spanish words
como ehtas / ehtah
Native
Sajjan – Sajan
Minhadi – Mehendi
Gojarwalan – Gujranwala
Kilachi - Kirachi
20. Lexical Change
Change in the words and vocabulary used
Addition of suffixes/prefixes to make new words
breakable, thinkable, touchable, etc
Addition of ‘s’ and ‘-es’
drink – drinks
box – boxes
Native
Subh – Subhu – Subha
Sabza – Sabzazar
Deewankhana – Bethak – Drawing room
21. Syntactic Change
Changes in word order
Double negation – no longer part of English
Old English - ne aux – not never
Contracted negatives – Old English
knew not – didn’t know
Comparatives – Old English
most shamefullest, more happier
Native
Phone karo – Phone lgao
Film lagi hui he – Film chal rahi he
22. Semantic Change
Changes related to meanings
Broadening
Dogge -– specific breed - all dogs
Narrowing
deer -– any beast - specific animal
Opposite
Sick – Good
Native
Bandar/gah – Bandargah
Sikh – foolish
Akhrot
Bera tar jaye
Bala (musibat) – Every bad thing
