Language change: how does change spread?

Random Fluctuation Theory

Innovation, Diffusion and S-curve

The Wave Model

The Substratum Theory

New form of language starts in the centre and gradually spread out further

As the ripple effect spreads out, the language changes become weaker, this may be reflected in fewer people using the new feature further from the centre.

Influential factors:

  • geographical distance
  • age
  • ethnicity
  • social class
  • gender

Conventions of language are learned by interacting with other users of the language

change can be random/ unpredictable

Charles Hockett: errors occur in lang and we tend to pass these errors on

BUT not all changes are random, there must be some organised process

Change begins small - affecting only few words


Fluctuation between new forms and old (old/new at same time)

Gradually new forms oust the old

When change takes off, and spreads rapidly - but then slacks off

Language change consists of 2 stages

  1. Innovation: creation of a new word
  1. Diffusion: spread of new word/ phrase

S-Curve (1)

Speakers learn a new language they will learn it imperfectly and then pass these imperfections on to the future generations

Imperfections are mostly evident in the phonology (sound) / sometimes syntax (sentence structure) but vocab is mostly unchanged

However, when people 'borrow' from other languages, it is mainly vocab that is affected