M. A. I english P. C3 & C6 Modern Linguistics title pmd

1.3.4 Language Change
Change is the law of the universe. As human language is dynamic, it 
is bound to change over a period of time. The changes may differ from place 
to place. Several reasons of language change have been noted. These 
changes as well as reasons are recorded under the nature of linguistics. 
Some of the reasons are as follows.
i) 
We human beings do not like repetitiveness. To avoid repetition in the 
expression, we express the same thought or idea in different words. 
‘Sometimes we telephone, sometimes we phone, at times we ring up 
and occasionally we call up or call ’ (Verma&Krishnaswamy, p.19). 
ii) 
There are some new realities which force us to change or invent new 
expressions. For example, Milton in his epic Paradise Lost (1667) 
invents the word ‘Pandemonium’ instead of using ‘Hell’. Words like 
‘computer’, ‘phone’, ‘cell phone’, ‘television’, etc. are inventions and 
they are given new names.
iii) 
There are words which are combinations of two words. For example 
some hotels and lodges offer ‘breakfast’ and ‘lunch’ in their one day 
package. This together becomes ‘brunch’. Same is true with ‘motel’ 
which is derived from ‘motorist’s hotel’.

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iv) 
We have several examples of abridged words such as ‘mike’ for 
‘microphone’, ‘phone’ for ‘telephone’, ‘doc’ for ‘doctor’, etc. These 
abridged words have become more popular than the original words.
v) 
Language may change in respect of meaning. There are some words 
which have changed their meaning. For example, ‘villain’ is a word 
which meant ‘a rustic having no manners’ but now it means ‘a rogue’, 
‘a crooked person having criminal background’. 
vi) 
There are some new expressions which have changed the analogical 
meanings of the phrases. For example ‘a moment ago; a grief ago; 
two husbands ago’. These analogies are modern linguistic adaptations 
apart from being literary and they have altered the dimensions of 
certain personal expressions in our daily life. 
vii) 
Certain colloquial expressions have been adapted as valid 
expressions in the standard variety of language.
viii) 
Most of the languages add loan words to their core vocabulary. These 
languages develop day-by-day.