Appunti di Lingua Inglese I

Language change and variation in English: its history and sociolinguistical status

A language is a system of communication on the intelligibility of the speakers and variety is open and dynamic, adapting easily to the history and culture of the people community in which they’re used. English is itself a dynamic.

Languages constantly change, a process that can take place either suddenly (such as the introduction of new words) or slowly (such as a change of pronunciation over time).

Their variation is a product of different factors at work, that can be reduced to only two:

1. USER - when it depends on the user, it can be linked to their geographical location or social variable such as social class, sex, gender, ethnicity, age, etc.

However, according to sociolinguistics, although all the varieties of a language have the same basis, they are affected by social, ethnic, and racial prejudice towards the socio-cultural, economic and political status of the speaker(s).

Some varieties are perceived as more prestigious and are more accepted than others, they’re seen as an aid for both social mobility and the access for cultural studies.

e.g. Indeed, women talk a variety closer to the standard language, because they want to be valued and taken into considerations, something not always easy in a patriarchal society such as ours.

USE - when it depends on the use: a language could change due to the occasion, the medium used, the topic under discussion, the interlocutor themselves, etc.

e.g. this can be seen in the differences between high/formal styles and the low/informal styles.

First, when we talk about "richness" we mean an appropriate use of language in a certain situation. Moreover, there is a difference between spoken and written form.

SPOKEN

• More than one participant
• Implicit
• Simple structure
• Concrete, common vocabulary

WRITTEN

• Single writer
• Explicit
• Elaborate structure
• Abstract, less common vocabulary
• Passive verbs more common!

Language change and variation in English: its history and sociolinguistical status

A language is a system of communication on the intelligibility of the speakers and variety is open and dynamic, adapting easily to the history and culture of the people community in which they're used. English is itself a dynamic. Languages constantly change, a process that can take place either suddenly (such as the introduction of new words) or slowly (such as a change of pronunciation overtime) . Their variation is a product of different factors at work, that can be reduced to only two:

• user, when it depends on the user; it can depend on their geographical location or social variable such as social class, sex, gender, ethnicity, age, etc.
• Indeed, women talk a variety closer to the standard language, because they want to be valued and taken into consideration - something not always easy sic in a patriarchal society such as ours.

However, according to sociolinguistics, although all the varieties of a language have the same status, they are affected by social, ethnic, and racial prejudices towards the socio-cultural, economic and political status of the speakers.

Some varieties are perceived as more prestigious and are more accepted than others, they're seen as an aid for both social mobility and the access of cultural status.

• Use, when it depends on the use; a language could change due to the occasion, the medium used, the topic under discussion, to the interlocutor themselves, or its.
• This can be seen in the differences between high/formal styles and low/informal styles.

First, when we talk about "richness" we mean an appropriate use of language in a certain situation. Moreover, there is a difference between spoken and written form:

• Spoken:
  • More than one participant
  • Implicit
  • Simple structure
  • Concrete, common vocabulary
• Written:
  • Single writer