1. What is the central idea of each text? Answer in complete sentences!!! (3 pts each)
“Use It or Lose It: Why Language Changes over Time”
Words more commonly used in everyday life are far less likely to evolve compared to less frequently used words, seen across multiple Indo-European languages. One of the main examples, in English, is irregular verbs. As language evolved from Old to Middle to current English, fewer and fewer irregular verbs (non “-ed”) existed. Studies found that the verbs that have been regularized were used significantly les compared to those that remained unchanged to this day.
“New word order”
Because the English language is continuously evolving, dictionaries are competing to keep up to maintain their reputations. However, dictionaries can be seen as useless since language is not fixed and self-regulating as meanings shift and gain deeper or specific meanings. Capturing such nuances into standard definitions is incredibly difficult, as they will soon become obsolete. …show more content…
Cult dialects, text speak (which is over-emphasized than it actually is), and acronyms have arisen from the internet as well.
“Do you speak American?”
Mainstream English in America is shaped by the middle class women before spreading to other classes. Resistance to such changes can usually be seen in higher-status groups in order to maintain their social distinction against lower-status group through language. Changes in language can be adopted to create social distinctions in general, which can especially be seen a community pronounces certain vowels or words.
2. How does each author support the central idea? (4 pts each)
“Use It or Lose It: Why Language Changes over
“Use It or Lose It: Why Language Changes over Time”
Words more commonly used in everyday life are far less likely to evolve compared to less frequently used words, seen across multiple Indo-European languages. One of the main examples, in English, is irregular verbs. As language evolved from Old to Middle to current English, fewer and fewer irregular verbs (non “-ed”) existed. Studies found that the verbs that have been regularized were used significantly les compared to those that remained unchanged to this day.
“New word order”
Because the English language is continuously evolving, dictionaries are competing to keep up to maintain their reputations. However, dictionaries can be seen as useless since language is not fixed and self-regulating as meanings shift and gain deeper or specific meanings. Capturing such nuances into standard definitions is incredibly difficult, as they will soon become obsolete. …show more content…
Cult dialects, text speak (which is over-emphasized than it actually is), and acronyms have arisen from the internet as well.
“Do you speak American?”
Mainstream English in America is shaped by the middle class women before spreading to other classes. Resistance to such changes can usually be seen in higher-status groups in order to maintain their social distinction against lower-status group through language. Changes in language can be adopted to create social distinctions in general, which can especially be seen a community pronounces certain vowels or words.
2. How does each author support the central idea? (4 pts each)
“Use It or Lose It: Why Language Changes over