English Language A2- Language change: Grammar
- Created by: Charlottemurray_
- Created on: 21-05-15 09:37
View mindmap
- Language Change: Grammar
- Most drastic changes happened before the end of the Middle Ages. Language has been stable over the last 300 years.
- Use of primary verbs (be, have, do)
- Modern usages
- Used to create the perfect tense (I have walked)
- Used for creating negations (Did I walk?)
- Previously
- Verbs were used to create the perfect tense instead of the primary verb (My life is run its course)
- Wasn't always used when negating "thou seest not" - "Seest thou?". 'Do' is not being used.
- Modern usages
- Verb endings / Inflections
- Modern usages
- Not a large variety of inflections.
- We use '-ed' for past tense. We use '-ing' for continuous and '-s' for third person singular present tense (he walks)
- Previously
- Use of '-eth', '-est' '-en' instead of the modern third person e.g 'pleaseth' 'gotten' 'think'st'
- Link in economy principle
- Modern usages
- Second person pronouns
- Modern usages
- 'You' is used for both singular and plural
- Previously
- "Thou", "Thee", "Thine" and "Thy"
- "thou" and "thee" were used for similar use
- used for a range of different things e.g. endearing, intimacy and rudeness.
- Only survive in poetry and religion
- "you" and "ye" were formal. "You" was used in the singular to signify politeness and respect"
- The politer form drove out all other uses
- Link in competition theory
- The politer form drove out all other uses
- "thou" and "thee" were used for similar use
- "Thou", "Thee", "Thine" and "Thy"
- Modern usages
- Relative pronouns
- Modern usages
- We now use 'who' or 'which' for both objects and things.
- Previously
- Which was used for both objects and things. 'Who' was not used e.g. 'our father which art in Heaven'
- Modern usages
- Double Negatives
- Modern usages
- Double negatives are not acceptable in standard English
- Still used within regional dialects.
- Previously
- They were created by Dr Lowth.
- Died out in the 1700s.
- Modern usages
- Formation of plurals
- Previously
- Words were pluralised by adding '-en' to the end e..g 'shoen'. Still used now but is rare e.g. 'children'
- Previously
- The use of prepositions
- 'While' used instead of 'since' - e..g 'I've been wating while six o'clock'
- Link in the competition theory.
- 'While' used instead of 'since' - e..g 'I've been wating while six o'clock'
Comments
No comments have yet been made