English Language Revision
Language Change
Question:
(Paper 2 Question 3) - this is commonly how the question will be phrased
By detailed analysis of the writing in both passages, discuss and illustrate the variations in
language between the _ and _ centuries. In your answer, you should explore how language is
used in each text and how contextual factors influence how meaning is constructed. [36]
1 HOUR 5 MINUTES to do this essay
Annotating Language Change
15 minutes
1. 1m – Read the intro sentence of each passage and highlight important information to
consider
2. 10m – Skim read both texts and annotate both texts*
3. Plan out 3/4 paragraphs (not in-depth) with similarities and differences
*While annotating both texts, consider: PRODUCER, AUDIENCE, GENRE, SUBJECT, REGISTER, PURPOSE, TIME PERIOD
Writing Paragraphs for Language Change Essay
No Introduction, No conclusion, 3/4 paragraphs
50 minutes
Paragraph Structure
1. Topic sentence outlining broad point of comparison
2. Link both texts by similarity (one or two specific features, which link)
3. Provide 2/3 quotations of this feature in both passages (we want to find examples)
4. Analysis of both: link to why this feature has been used and link to context
5. Contrasting sentences linked to the theme of the paragraph and state their difference
6. Analytical point about Text A (including quotes and explanation)
7. Contrasting analytical point about Text B (including quotes and explanation)
8. End of para: why has this difference occurred (link to language change concepts/period)
, Language Change Knowledge
Change Concepts
→ Why does language change?
− Romaine notes down two aspects of studying change:
Internal: creation of new words on a technical level
External: Impact of social contexts
− Goodman: Informalisation
This is how we use language and symbols in English to understand and communicate
about the world
− Fairclough: Language has been “conversationalised”
− Labov: Social bonding theory
Feature of use starts with restricted use by small group, spreads to those who wish
to be part of the group/bond with group members
→ Attitudes to change
− Prescriptivism vs Descriptivism
Prescriptivists believe that language should stay the same – standard English – while
descriptivists believe in language change and accept non-standard English
− Decay vs Evolution
Decay is when certain languages or dialects become less used or extinct while
evolution is the development and transformation of language over time
− Aitchison’s labels for prescriptivists
Crumbling castle: language is like a castle that's slowly decaying and crumbling to
ruin as people change it
Infectious disease: language change is like a virus that spreads through its speakers,
causing harm to language as it is passed on
Damp spoon: language is slowly changing as people are too lazy to follow standards
→ Process of Change
− Four-stage Process:
Potential: Need for a new word
Implementation: People start to use it
Diffusion: Use spreads
Codification: Enters dictionary
− Bex: Generic Labels
Change occurs within a genre over time in one or more of these ways: change within
the genre, new sub-genre and new discourse communities
Language Change
Question:
(Paper 2 Question 3) - this is commonly how the question will be phrased
By detailed analysis of the writing in both passages, discuss and illustrate the variations in
language between the _ and _ centuries. In your answer, you should explore how language is
used in each text and how contextual factors influence how meaning is constructed. [36]
1 HOUR 5 MINUTES to do this essay
Annotating Language Change
15 minutes
1. 1m – Read the intro sentence of each passage and highlight important information to
consider
2. 10m – Skim read both texts and annotate both texts*
3. Plan out 3/4 paragraphs (not in-depth) with similarities and differences
*While annotating both texts, consider: PRODUCER, AUDIENCE, GENRE, SUBJECT, REGISTER, PURPOSE, TIME PERIOD
Writing Paragraphs for Language Change Essay
No Introduction, No conclusion, 3/4 paragraphs
50 minutes
Paragraph Structure
1. Topic sentence outlining broad point of comparison
2. Link both texts by similarity (one or two specific features, which link)
3. Provide 2/3 quotations of this feature in both passages (we want to find examples)
4. Analysis of both: link to why this feature has been used and link to context
5. Contrasting sentences linked to the theme of the paragraph and state their difference
6. Analytical point about Text A (including quotes and explanation)
7. Contrasting analytical point about Text B (including quotes and explanation)
8. End of para: why has this difference occurred (link to language change concepts/period)
, Language Change Knowledge
Change Concepts
→ Why does language change?
− Romaine notes down two aspects of studying change:
Internal: creation of new words on a technical level
External: Impact of social contexts
− Goodman: Informalisation
This is how we use language and symbols in English to understand and communicate
about the world
− Fairclough: Language has been “conversationalised”
− Labov: Social bonding theory
Feature of use starts with restricted use by small group, spreads to those who wish
to be part of the group/bond with group members
→ Attitudes to change
− Prescriptivism vs Descriptivism
Prescriptivists believe that language should stay the same – standard English – while
descriptivists believe in language change and accept non-standard English
− Decay vs Evolution
Decay is when certain languages or dialects become less used or extinct while
evolution is the development and transformation of language over time
− Aitchison’s labels for prescriptivists
Crumbling castle: language is like a castle that's slowly decaying and crumbling to
ruin as people change it
Infectious disease: language change is like a virus that spreads through its speakers,
causing harm to language as it is passed on
Damp spoon: language is slowly changing as people are too lazy to follow standards
→ Process of Change
− Four-stage Process:
Potential: Need for a new word
Implementation: People start to use it
Diffusion: Use spreads
Codification: Enters dictionary
− Bex: Generic Labels
Change occurs within a genre over time in one or more of these ways: change within
the genre, new sub-genre and new discourse communities
