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LANGUAGE VARIATION AND CHANGE: GENRE AND AGE - Coggle Diagram
LANGUAGE VARIATION AND CHANGE: GENRE AND AGE
Language Variation
Factors Influencing Variation
Cultural Factors
Cultural practices and norms affecting language
Example
Use of honorifics in the Japanese language
Social Factors
Influence of social class, gender, ethnicity on language use
Example
Women may use more standard forms than men in certain communities
Geographic Factors
Regional influences on language
Example
Southern American English includes "y'all" for the second person plural
Refers to the differences in language use across different regions, social groups, or contexts
Example
In the US, the pronunciation of the word "car" differs between Boston and Texas
Types of Variation
Dialectal
Variations in language associated with geographic regions
Example
British English vs. American English
Register
Based on the formality of the contex
Example
Academic writing vs. casual conversatio
Stylistic
Based on personal style or preference
Example
Use of contractions like "can't" vs. "cannot
Sociolectal
Associated with social class or group
Example
Use of non-standard grammar among working-class communities
Language Change
Mechanisms of Change
Phonetic
Changes in the sounds of a language
Example
The Great Vowel Shift in English
Morphological
Changes in the structure and formation of words
Example
Old English "boc" becoming Modern English "book"
Syntactic
Changes in sentence structure
Example
The move from Old English SOV (subject-object-verb) order to Modern English SVO (subject-verb-object)
Semantic
Changes in word meanings
Example
The word "knight" originally meant servant, now it means a noble warrior
Theories of Language Change
Historical Linguistics
Study of how languages change over time
Example
Comparative analysis of Latin and its descendant languages
Sociolinguistic Perspectives
Examining how social factors contribute to language change
Example
Influence of youth culture on slang terms
Processes of Change
Innovation
Introduction of new words or structures
Example
Coining of new technology terms like "internet"
Diffusion
Spread of linguistic features across populations
Example
The adoption of the word "cool" to mean fashionable
Standardization
Process of developing and promoting a standard language form
Example
The establishment of Received Pronunciation in British English
Genre
A category of discourse with specific conventions and styles
Example
Scientific papers follow different conventions than novels
Types
Formal vs. Informal Genres
Formal genres are structured and follow strict rules; informal genres are more relaxed
Example
Business letters (formal) vs. text messages (informal)
Literary vs. Non-Literary Genres
Literary genres are artistic and creative; non-literary genres are factual and informative
Example
Poetry (literary) vs. news articles (non-literary)
Genre and Language Use
Variation within Genres
Different genres exhibit different language features
Example
Use of passive voice in academic writing vs. active voice in journalistic writing
Influence of Context and Audience
Language use varies depending on the audience and context
Example
Political speeches tailored to different demographics
Age
Age as a Factor in Language Variation
Different age groups use language differently
Example
Teenagers using more slang compared to older adults
Language Acquisition and Change
First Language Acquisition
How children learn their native language
Example
Children mastering the sounds and grammar of their native language by age 5
Language Change Across the Lifespan
How language use evolves as individuals age
Example
Older adults might maintain more conservative language forms
Sociolinguistic Studies
Studies on Age-Related Variation
Research on how language use varies with age
Example
Studies showing younger speakers often lead in linguistic innovation
Impact of Generational Change on Language
How generational differences contribute to language evolution
Example
The influence of internet culture on the language used by millennials and Gen Z