BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO

FACULTY OF ART AND ISLAMIC STUDIES

DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS

COURSE CODE:
LIN 1204

COURSE TITLE:
LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD

ASSIGNMENT
LANGUAGE CHANGE

GROUP E MEMBERS
S/N NAMES REG. NUMBER SIGNATURE
1. THERESA O. INNOCENT EDU/22/BAE/00137
2. IBRAHIM LAWAL AIS/23/LIN/00762
3. KHAIRAT MUHAMMAD LAWAL AIS/22/ENG/00992
4. KHADIJA AHMAD AIS/23/LIN/00765
5. SULAIMAN PEACE MUSA AIS/22/ENG/01093
INTRODUCTION
Language is dynamic and evolves over time. The process of language change is a natural and
inevitable aspect of human communication, reflecting changes in culture, technology, society, and
contact between different linguistic communities. It’s a gradual transformation that can affect
every component of a language, from its phonetics to grammar, vocabulary, and even meaning.
From the gradual shifts in vocabulary and grammar to the more rapid changes brought about by
globalization and digital communication, language change encompasses a broad spectrum of
phenomena.

LANGUAGE CHANGE
Language change refers to the natural and ongoing process by which languages transform over
time. This transformation can occur in various aspects of a language, including its sounds
(phonology), word structures (morphology), sentence structures (syntax), meanings of words
(semantics), and vocabulary (lexicon). Language change usually does not occur suddenly, but
rather takes place via an extended period of variation, during which new and old linguistic features
coexist. All living languages are continually undergoing change. Some commentators use
derogatory labels such as "corruption" to suggest that language change constitutes a degradation
in the quality of a language, especially when the change originates from human error or is a
prescriptively discouraged usage.
Understanding language change is not just about examining how words and structures evolve, but
also about recognizing the underlying reasons for these shifts. Migration, trade, conquest, and the
spread of ideas all play pivotal roles in shaping the linguistic landscape. Moreover, internal factors
such as the natural tendencies for simplification and regularization in language usage also
contribute to its evolution.
 TYPES OF LANGUAGE CHANGE
1. Phonetic and Phonological Change
Phonetic change involves changes in the actual sounds of a language. For example, the English
language underwent a major phonetic transformation between the 14th and 18th centuries known
as the Great Vowel Shift. Before the shift, the vowel sound in "bite" was pronounced like "beet,"
and the vowel in "meet" was pronounced like "mate." The shift resulted in changes to long vowels
and is why English pronunciation differs greatly from its spelling.

Phonological change refers to changes in the rules that govern sound patterns. This might
involve the loss of a phoneme or the introduction of new sounds into a language, altering the
system by which words are formed. In Old Spanish, the Latin word “vita” was pronounced with
a hard /b/ sound at the start of the word. In Modern Spanish, this has softened to a /v/ or even a
softer /β/ sound, as in the word “vida”

2. Morphological Change
The structure of words can change as languages evolve. Morphological change affects the way
words are formed and inflected. For instance, Old English had a highly inflected grammar, with a
more complex system of noun cases including nominative, accusative, genitive, and dative cases,
which indicated the function of a noun in a sentence. The word "stone" in Old English could appear
as "stan" (nominative) or "stane" (dative). Over time, English has simplified, shedding many
inflections and adopting a more fixed word order instead.

Languages like Latin, which was once morphologically rich, have evolved into Romance
languages (e.g., French, Spanish) with simpler grammatical structures.

3. Syntactic Change
Syntax or sentence structure, also shifts over time. English, for example, once followed a
different word order, especially in older forms. In Old English, sentences could be more flexible,
and subjects might come after verbs (Verb-Subject-Object or VSO). For example, in Old English,
a sentence like "I saw the king" could be "I saw the king" (SVO) or "I the king saw" (SOV). In
Modern English, the structure is rigidly Subject-Verb-Object (SVO).
Changes in syntax might also include shifts in how sentences are negated, the use of auxiliary
verbs, or word placement in questions.
4. Lexical Change
Perhaps the most visible form of language change is in the lexicon or vocabulary. As cultures
evolve, new words are created, old words fall out of use, and the meanings of existing words shift.
This can happen through:

Borrowing: Words are frequently borrowed from other languages due to contact between
cultures. English, for instance, has borrowed words from Latin, French, Germanic, and even non-
European languages. English is rich in borrowed words from other languages. After the Norman
Conquest, thousands of French words entered English, including terms for law (court, judge),
governance (government, parliament), and cuisine (beef, poultry).

Neologism: New words are coined to describe new technologies or phenomena. For example,
the rise of the internet has introduced terms like “selfie,” “emoji,” and “hashtag.”

Semantic change: The meanings of words can shift over time. For example, the word “girl” in
Middle English originally referred to a young person of either gender, whereas now it specifically
means a female child or young woman.

5. Semantic and Pragmatic Change

Semantic change involves shifts in the meanings of words. These changes are often driven by
social, cultural, or technological factors. Words might:

Narrow in meaning (semantic narrowing): For example, “meat” once referred to all food in
Old English but now specifically refers to animal flesh.

Broaden in meaning (semantic broadening): The word “holiday” once meant “holy day” but
now refers to any vacation or break from work.
Undergo amelioration or pejoration: Words may take on more positive (amelioration) or more
negative (pejoration) connotations. “Silly” used to mean “happy” or “fortunate,” but now means
“foolish.”

Pragmatic change involves shifts in how language is used in context. Words or phrases might
become formalized or informal over time, or shifts in politeness strategies can occur as cultural
norms change.
 CAUSES OF LANGUAGE CHANGE

1. Language Contact
One of the most significant drivers of language change is contact with other languages. When
speakers of different languages or dialects interact, they tend to borrow words, phrases, and even
grammatical structures from each other. This contact can occur through trade, colonization,
migration, and globalization.

For example, English has absorbed a significant number of loanwords from French following
the Norman Conquest of 1066, and today it continues to borrow words from languages worldwide
due to its status as a global lingua franca.

2. Social and Cultural Factors

Language reflects the society that speaks it. As social structures change, so does language. This
can be influenced by class, gender, age, and profession.

For instance, the rise of feminist movements has encouraged the adoption of more gender-
neutral language in English (e.g., the use of “they” as a singular pronoun). Similarly, technological
advances create new vocabulary to describe innovations, such as “smartphone,” “tweet,” and
“streaming.”

3. Internal Pressures
Language also changes internally through mechanisms such as simplification or analogy.
Irregular forms in a language tend to become regularized over time as speakers unconsciously seek
more consistent patterns.

For example, the past tense of the verb “help” in Old English was “holp,” but this form was
eventually replaced by the regularized “helped.”

4. Children’s Language Acquisition

Children are often the agents of language change. When learning their first language, they
sometimes adopt new forms or regularize irregularities. Over generations, these small shifts can
accumulate, leading to larger-scale changes in the language as a whole.
5. Technological Influence
- In the digital age, technology plays a massive role in shaping language. The internet, social
media, and smartphones have introduced new ways of communicating (e.g., emojis, abbreviations
like “LOL” and “BRB”). Technology also speeds up the spread of language change, as trends and
innovations can be disseminated globally in real-time.

LANGUAGE CHANGE AND ATTITUDES

People’s attitudes towards language change can vary widely. Some view it as a natural and
inevitable process, while others may resist change, viewing it as a form of degradation or decay.
Prescriptivism is the belief that certain rules of language must be adhered to in order to maintain a
“correct” or “pure” form of the language. In contrast, descriptivism takes a more objective view,
studying language as it is used, rather than imposing rules.

The tension between these two views is seen in debates over grammar, spelling, and
pronunciation. For instance, some people argue against the use of informal contractions or new
usages in formal writing, while others embrace the flexibility and adaptability of language.

THE FUTURE OF LANGUAGE CHANGE

As the world continues to become more interconnected, languages are likely to continue
influencing one another at an accelerated pace. The rise of digital communication may create
entirely new linguistic phenomena. Already, the internet has given birth to memes, abbreviations,
and novel forms of written communication that cross borders and cultures rapidly.

Some languages may disappear as smaller communities merge or are absorbed by larger, more
dominant languages. At the same time, there are growing efforts to preserve endangered languages
through technology and education.
In the long term, language will continue to evolve in response to the needs, habits, and
environments of its speakers. Whether through the simplification of grammar, the expansion of
vocabulary, or the creation of new ways to express meaning, language change reflects humanity’s
ever-changing nature.

CONCLUSION
Language change is an inherent and dynamic aspect of human society. Influenced by a multitude
of factors including social interaction, cultural shifts, technological advances, and contact with
other languages, it reveals much about human adaptation and communication. While there may be
resistance to some forms of change, the evolution of language is ultimately a sign of its vitality
and ability to meet the needs of its speakers across generations and borders.

REFERENCE
1. Aitchison jean. Language change: progress or Decay? 4th edition ed., Cambridge university
press

2. Crystal David. The Cambridge encyclopedia of language. 3rd ed., Cambridge university
press,2010

3. Hock, Hans Henrich, and Joseph, Brain D. language History, language change, and language
relationship: An introduction to historical and comparative linguistics. 2nd ed., De Gruyter, 2009.

4. Labov William. Principles of linguistics change: Internal factors. Vol.1 Wiley-blackwell, 1994