MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY
MAIN CAMPUS (THIKA)
REGNO:BEDA/2019/52509
NAME: MERCY KEMUNTO OBAIGWA
UNIT CODE: BLA2104
UNIT TITLE: ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH
PHONE: 0740644560
CAT
QUESTION
Discuss language change using examples from English language at graphological, lexical, phonological
and semantic level
Language change in English is a continuous process driven by cultural, technological, and social factors,
manifesting across four main levels:
a) Graphological - deal with writing and appearance
b)Lexical_ this is a vocabulary level
c)Phonological - Here, we talk of pronunciation
d) Semantic _Semantics is the study of meaning
Now that I have broadly described the meaning of the four levels above, below is a narrow description
of how language has evolved/ changed in each level depending on the culture, technology and social
factors.
1) Phonological Change
The concept of sound change covers both phonetic and phonological developments.
The sociolinguist William Labov recorded the change in pronunciation in a relatively short period in the
American resort of Martha’s Vineyard and showed how this resulted from social tensions and processes.
Even in the relatively short time that broadcast media have recorded their work, one can observe the
difference between the pronunciation of the newsreaders of the 1940s and the 1950s and the
pronunciation of today. The greater
acceptance and fashionability of regional accents in media may also reflect a more
democratic, less formal society — compare the widespread adoption of language policies
Loss of Consonants: Sounds are often dropped (elision), such as the initial /k/ in "knight" or the /l/ in
"walk".
Roticity (Pronounced 'r'): Early Modern English was highly rhotic (pronounced 'r' after vowels), which
later disappeared in standard British English (Received Pronunciation) but was maintained in most
American accents.
Yod-coalescence: The merging of sounds, such as /dj/ becoming /dʒ/ in "procedure".
2)Graphological Change
Graphology involves the visual appearance of language, including spelling, punctuation, and layout.
Standardization: Early English spelling was highly inconsistent, reflecting regional accents. Dr. Samuel
Johnson’s dictionary (1755) and the printing press standardized spelling.
Disappearing Letters: Old English used symbols that have since vanished, such as the "ash" (\text{\ae})
and the thorn (
) for the "th" sound.
The Long 's' (
): From the 17th to 19th centuries, the long
was used at the beginning and middle of words (e.g., "
").
Modern Digital Impact: Electronic media has led to increased informality and experimentation, including
emojis, capitalization changes, abbreviations (e.g., "gr8", "u"), and reduced use of traditional
punctuation.
3)Semantic Change
Semantic changes are shifts in meaning of the existing words. They include:
Broadening (Generalization): A word gains a broader meaning. For example, "dog" originally referred to
a specific powerful breed but broadened to encompass all domestic canines.
Narrowing (Specialization): A word’s meaning becomes more specific. "Mete" once meant food in
general, but narrowed to mean only "meat".
Amelioration (Elevation): A word acquires a more positive meaning over time. "Nice" used to mean
"ignorant" or "foolish" (from Latin nescius).
Pejoration (Deterioration): A word acquires a more negative meaning. "Slut" originally meant an untidy
woman, but has deteriorated into a pejorative term.
Semantic Shift: A word completely changes meaning, such as "mouse" moving from just an animal to a
computer device
4)Lexical Change
Lexical change is the most active form of change, involving the addition, loss, or borrowing of words.
Borrowing: English has absorbed thousands of words from other languages. Examples include "caravan"
(Persian), "yacht" (Dutch), "bamboo" (Malay), and "sushi" (Japanese).
Neologisms (New Coinages): Technology drives rapid vocabulary growth, such as "internet," "selfie,"
"influencer," and "blockchain".
Blending and Shortening: New words are created by combining or clipping existing ones:
Blends: "Smog" (smoke + fog), "brunch" (breakfast + lunch).
Clipping: "App" (application), "sync" (synchronise).
Conversion (Functional Shift): Words change part of speech without added affixes, such as using the
noun "text" as a verb ("I’ll text)
Reference
1) Lecturer notes