简明语言学教程Chapter7Change.ppt

L Change (Historical linguistics) Historical linguistics is the a branch of linguistics, is mainly concerned with both the description and explanation of language change. Diachronic linguistics ① the identification of the changes enables us to reconstruct the linguistic history of that language, hypothesizes its earlier forms. ② it also enables us to determine how non-linguistic factors, such as social, cultural and psychological factors, interact over time to trigger linguistic change. Causes of the Language Change Sound Change Introduction a.?Old English古 代英语 (449-1066) Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon epic poem, the most important work of Old English literature ??? b. Middle English中世纪英语 (1066-1500) Chaucer, Shakespeare ? c. Modern English 现代英语 (1500-present) Introduction Phonological changes Among all the changes in language, either subtle or obvious, changes at phonological level are particularly noticeable and varied. Some common types of sound changes can be distinguished and recognized, which makes it possible to work out patterns of pronunciation changes throughout the history of the English language. The most dramatic change that English underwent included the vowels as illustrated in the examples. (P. 94) Sound Change The Great Vowel Shift was a major change in the pronunciation of the English language that took place in England between 1350 and 1500. Sound/phonological change: systematic; regular pattern of pronunciation changes a) Vowel sound change Great Vowel Shift元音大换位, which occurred at the end of the Middle English period, approximately between 1400 and 1600 and which involved 7 long vowels, led to one of the major disagreements between the pronunciation and the spelling system of Modern English. For example: ? Middle English ? Modern English Five fi:v faiv mouse ? mu:s ? maUs feet fe:t fi:t mood ? m ?: d mu:d break ? br Z