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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 3 page paper explores the way language evolves and changes in the U.S. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: KV32_HVlngusa.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
language and change it. This paper discusses the changes in language that have occurred over time, concentrating on slang. It also discusses whether and how changes in language have reflected
changes in society. Discussion It seems reasonable that languages evolve, and yet its surprising-children can understand their parents and grandparents with no difficulty so we assume language doesnt change all
that quickly (Mahoney, 2008). Linguists have found that all languages change, but at very different rates: Japanese has hardly changed at all in 1,000 years, but English evolved in a
matter of a few centuries (Mahoney, 2008). "Many present-day speakers find Shakespeares sixteenth century texts difficult and Chaucers fourteenth century Canterbury Tales nearly impossible to read" (Mahoney, 2008). There are
many reasons why languages change: they may respond to economic, social and political pressures, for instance; or they may change in response to invasion and colonization; or with the coming
of large waves of immigrants (Mahoney, 2008). At times, "the needs of speakers drive language change" (Mahoney, 2008). Things that are now commonplace, like cell phones and the Internet were
unknown 50 years ago; there were no words for them (Mahoney, 2008). When they were invented, so was the language to describe them (Mahoney, 2008). Language also changes because no
two speakers use it exactly the same way (Mahoney, 2008). People speak using the phrases and vocabulary that reflect "where they live, their age, education level, social status and other
factors" (Mahoney, 2008). Speakers are constantly learning new words; frequently, the change comes from teenagers who add entirely new phrases to the language ("off the hook" anyone?) (Mahoney, 2008). Languages
change over time in three basic ways: vocabulary, "sentence structure and pronunciations" (Mahoney, 2008). Vocabulary changes when English borrows words from other languages, or "as words get combined or shortened"
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