Language Change

Task One
New words in the oxford dictionary

• E-cigarette- Another term for electronic cigarette which is a cigarette-shaped device containing a nicotine based liquid that is vaporised and inhaled to simulate the experience of smoking tobacco.  
• Netbook- A netbook is a small laptop computer designed for internet based applications
• Photobomb- To spoil a photograph of a person or things unexpectedly by appearing in the camera's field of view as the picture is taken, typically as a prank or practical joke.
• Retweet- On the social media website Twitter; to retweet means to repost or forward a message posted by another user
• Tan line- A tan line is a visually clear division on the human skin between an area of pronounced comparative paleness relative to other areas that have been suntanned by exposure to ultra violet (UV) radiation. The source of the radiation may be the sun, or artificial UV sources such as tanning lamps.
• Twerk- To dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.
• On trend- Very fashionable.
• Blu-ray- A format of DVD designed for the storage of high definition video and data.
• Totes- Totally
• Jeggings- Tight fitting stretch trousers for women, styled to resemble a pair of denim jeans.

Task Two- Attitudes


There are a few different attitudes toward language change. Your task is to learn and define the following terms which express attitude:

• Prescriptivism- Also known as linguistic prescription; this is the practice of elevating one variety or manner of language use over another. It could imply some forms are incorrect, improper, lack communicative effect or of a low aesthetic value
• Descriptivism- This is the belief that the meanings or ethical or aesthetic terms and statements are purely descriptive rather than prescriptive, evaluative or emotive.
• Synchronic change- A diachronic study or analysis concerns itself with the evolution and change over time of that which is studied; it is roughly equivalent to historical. Thus diachronic linguists is also known as historical linguistics. A synchronic study of analysis, in contrast, limits its concern to a particular moment of time

Task Three
Attitudes to Language Change & Technology
The following TED talk and 3 articles are all about the relationship between language and texting. You may remember looking at the TED talk in your AS study. Watch and read them and make notes on the viewpoints of the writers and speaker. Do they display a descriptivist or prescriptivist attitude?

• John McWhorter TED Talk
• John Humphreys
• John Sutherland on Texting
• David Crystal on Language