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Evaluate the idea that language variation has decreased over time.
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A-level English Language Paper 2 evaluate question on language variation and how it may or may not have decreased over time
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Evaluate the idea that language variation has decreased overtime.
The use of English Language varies between individuals, social groups and different
regions across the country: a mongral language which reflects the diversity and this
synchronic variation is characteristic across all the language frameworks within the
English Language. However, like some language theorists argue, the variety and
difference between these forms of language has slowly eroded over time due to the
influence of technology, cultivating a homogenous and standardised version of
Language. Whilst some argue that Language has become increasingly diverse as
English can now be viewed as a melting pot of language, the introduction of new
cultures and influences of other countries has diversified the English Language.
However, some scholars argue that language change is unstoppable, but perhaps it
is inevitable that the pace of change will slow as dialect levelling becomes
embedded.
On one hand, the English Language has become decreased in variation, evident
through Haugen who theorised the four main stages of the standardisation of
Language. Haugen has established these stages to indicate the how the process of
standardisation has occurred over time and utilises his key stages to show how
language has become less diverse. Initially, the ‘selection stage’ first established the
standardisation of the English Language through the 1476 invention of the printing
press, developed by Caxton. A standardised form of language was needed to be
used in printing so that nationally people could understand and use this official
language. Caxton used the dialect of the East Midlands as the official dialect of the
printing press. Furthermore, the codification of language further consolidated a more
homogenised form of language. This can be reinforced through Bishop Lowth’s
introduction of shibboleths for grammar in 1762, decreasing the possibility of diverse
language. The third stage of ‘elaboration’ refers to the borrowing of lexis from other
cultures and countries during the Renaissance period, such as ‘cargo’ a term
borrowed from Spain to describe trade. However, it could be argued that this lexical
borrowing reinforces the increasing diversity of the English Language and the influx
of new terms that the Renaissance period encouraged. Finally, the ‘implementation’
stage reinforced this standardisation of language as the National Curriculum used
standards and qualifications to establish certain linguistic requirements for 11–16-
year-olds, creating a more homogenous and generalised approach to language.
Therefore, reinforced by Haugen’s 4 stages of standardisation, language has
become subsequently more standardised version of language with little room for
diversity and varieties of language.
Despite the standardisation of the English Language, varieties and diversity still
exists as a result of the different sociocultural groups in society. Moreover, language
and gender is just one of the examples of how language varieties seem to still be
present as the language of women dramatically differs from the male language.
Robin Lakoff, a key linguist, devised the key
Most notably, the rise of MLE in London is essential when illustrating the
However, the rise of dialect levelling illustrates how language varieties in language
are dramatically decreasing.
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