LANGUAGE CHANGE

Language Change Studied by both historical linguists and

sociolinguists

Diachronic Change – Hstorical Linguists the change of languages over timee.g. Old English Middle English Modern English

Synchronic Change - Sociolinguists the origins or the causes of language changeshow language changes with society or in particular periode.g. Punjabi in Pakistan and Punjabi in India

According to Jean Aitchison, language change occurs in three ways- Progress- Decay- Neither

Could be both Conscious and Unconsciouse.g. Loss of Rhotic ‘r’ – Unconscious

Could be Natural or Sociale.g. /b/ sound lost in ‘thumb’ – natural

Typesof

Changes

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

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

Replacement - replacements of words or structures coexists in language correct both ways

e.g half – halfs – halvesthievery – theftrise – rose – raised

NAtive Pistol – tamancha School – madrassa Train – gaari Kitaab – Kutab - Kitabain

Causes of Change

Social Status people of higher status introduce changes later considered prestigious

Native Burger – bun kabab Fries - Chips pronunciation of ‘career’ Baba/’Papa– Abu

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

Dialectal Change Difference in vocabulary or pronunciation due

to difference in dialects e.g

Autumn – falllift – elevator/r/ sound at the end and ‘schedule’

Native Shaljam – Thippar (Hazara) – Gongloo (Lahore) Bahaar – Basant (Lahore) Piyo(Lahore) – Lala (Hazara)

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

Women – picky more accurateterms

Men – simplistic

Laziness Occurs mainly because of laziness Shortening or Combining Become widely accepted – Standard

I am - I’m Going to – Gonna

Native Assalamoalikum – Salam Bismillah

Imperfect Learning Children learn adult forms imperfectly Majority usage - New strandard

Native Mehendi – Minhadi

Culture / Tradition New places, situations, objects Does not matter where they go

Native Examples Lassi Lacha Charkha Chahti

LevelsOf

Change

Levels of Changes Changes occur on the following levels

Phonological (sounds) Syntactic (structure) Semantic (meaning) Lexical (words)

Phonological Complex Not sudden – happens over time

ExamplesSame 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

Lexical Change Change in the words and vocabulary used

Addition of suffixes/prefixes to make new wordsbreakable, thinkable, touchable, etc

Addition of ‘s’ and ‘-es’drink – drinks box – boxes

Native Subh – Subhu – Subha Sabza – Sabzazar Deewankhana – Bethak – Drawing room

Syntactic Change Changes in word order

Double negation – no longer part of EnglishOld English - ne aux – not never

Contracted negatives – Old Englishknew not – didn’t know

Comparatives – Old Englishmost shamefullest, more happier

Native Phone karo – Phone lgao Film lagi hui he – Film chal rahi he

Semantic Change Changes related to meanings

Broadening Dogge -– specific breed - all dogs

Narrowingdeer -– any beast - specific animal

Opposite Sick – Good

Native Bandar/gah – Bandargah Sikh – foolish Akhrot Bera tar jaye Bala (musibat) – Every bad thing

Conclusion

Languages do change

Follows certain processes

Thank You !