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Attitudes to language (Stephen Fry on language change ("those who…
Attitudes to language
Many people become angry about 'nouns posing as verbs'
Prescriptivist view
how language 'should' be used and often 'complains' about new forms
Nouns can be turned into verbs = functional shift
Left-wing siding views (observer or guardian newspapers)
Descriptivist usually
Example questions that could be asked in the exam:
Section A: evaluate the idea that Standard English is naturally superior to other forms of language
Section A: Evaluate the idea that, while some new words are necessary , meaning changes degrade the language
Section B: Analyse how language is used in Text A and text B to represent views and attitudes to language change
Question 4 : Write an opinion article about language change in which you assess the ideas and issues raised in texts A and B and argue your own views.
Stephen Fry on language change
"glad to say I've outgrown that silly approach to language"
"they think they're guardians of language"
"those who seem to glory in being irritated by nouns becoming verbs..."
"avoid Shakespeare who made a doing word out of a thing word every chance he got"
"the claim to be defending language for the sake of clarity almost never, ever holds water"
"you slip into a suit for an interview and you dress your language up too"
"no right or wrong language"