Language Change and Historical Linguistics: Crash Course Linguistics #13

Summary

In this Crash Course Linguistics episode, Taylor explores the dynamic nature of language, emphasizing that it's constantly evolving. Historical linguistics is introduced as the study of language's past, with examples like the Great English Vowel Shift and the development of 'apron' from 'a napron'. Language change can stem from misinterpretations, need for clarity, or societal shifts, as seen with the evolution of pronouns. The video also delves into how languages diverge or converge through contact, leading to pidgins and creoles. It highlights the Nicaraguan Sign Language's emergence and the importance of diachronic and synchronic analyses in tracing language evolution. The reconstruction of Proto-Indo-European and other proto-languages illustrates the deep connections among languages, hinting at their common origins.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Language is constantly changing, with each generation adapting it to their needs.
• 📚 Historical linguistics studies the evolution of languages over time by examining their historical paths.
• 🔊 Language change can occur at various levels including sounds, words, and grammar.
• 🎵 The Great English Vowel Shift between 1400 and 1600 significantly altered English pronunciation.
• 🤔 Sometimes, language changes due to misunderstandings or reanalysis, such as the evolution of the word 'apron'.
• 🧑‍👦 Innovation in language can be driven by the need for clearer communication, like the differentiation of Old English pronouns.
• 🏳️‍🌈 Singular 'they' has evolved in usage, now also serving as a pronoun for some trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer individuals.
• 🌱 Language can naturally develop into new forms, as seen with the creation of Nicaraguan Sign Language from home signs.
• 🌏 Language contact often leads to convergence or divergence, influencing the development of languages.
• 👶 Children play a crucial role in language development, as seen in the transition from pidgins to creoles.
• 🔍 Comparative reconstruction allows linguists to hypothesize about proto-languages and the relationships between existing languages.

Q & A

What is historical linguistics?

Historical linguistics is the field that studies the path a language has taken over time, looking backward to piece together how a language has evolved.

How does language change occur?

Language change occurs across all levels of language, including sounds, words, and grammar. It can be influenced by factors such as misheard words, the need for better language functionality, and language contact.

What is the Great English Vowel Shift?

The Great English Vowel Shift was a major change in the pronunciation of vowels that occurred in English between 1400 and 1600.

Why did the word 'apron' change from 'napron' in English?

The word 'apron' changed from 'napron' because people misheard 'a napron' as 'an apron', and over time, 'apron' became the standard English word.

How did the use of singular 'they' evolve in English?

The use of singular 'they' evolved as a way to anonymize a person in the eighteenth century and more recently has become the pronoun for some trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer people.

What is a pidgin language?

A pidgin is a basic way of communicating that arises when speakers of mutually unintelligible languages come together and use elements of their languages to create a simplified means of communication.

What is a creole language and how does it form?

A creole language is a language that develops when a pidgin is spoken long enough in a community, especially by children, who expand it into a full language with complex grammar.

What is the difference between diachronic and synchronic analysis in linguistics?

Diachronic analysis studies language change over time, while synchronic analysis looks at variation across dialects or languages at a single point in time.

What is comparative reconstruction in historical linguistics?

Comparative reconstruction is the process of methodically piecing together a probable common ancestor language from existing records, often involving the identification of cognates and systematic patterns across languages.

What is Proto-Indo-European, and how is it related to many modern languages?

Proto-Indo-European is a hypothesized common ancestor language of many European and Indian subcontinent languages. It is believed to have been spoken around six thousand years ago and has been reconstructed through comparative reconstruction.

What are language isolates and why are they significant?

Language isolates are languages that have no known relatives or evidence of being related to any other language. They are significant because they represent unique linguistic developments that may have originated independently or for which historical records have been lost.