English Isn't What it Used to Be: The What, How, and Why of Language Change
Eden Bradshaw Kaiser
9:00 AM - 10:00 AMSat
Wright
Academic
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Universal
Have you ever wondered why catchphrases catch on? Changes in language, including catchphrases, spread through social networks and via people who have social capital within those networks. However, catchphrases, because they are lexical rather than phonetic or syntactic, are more noticeable to most people, and therefore people tend to have strong opinions about their use. Other more pervasive language change is happening all the time, often just below the level of consciousness. Because language change is widespread and inevitable, learning about language change is a critical step in becoming a more equitable editor in a world where underrepresented or disenfranchised voices are often the ones pioneering changes in language (whether conscious or not). In fact, it is an unfortunate truth that language use is one area where discrimination is still widely socially acceptable. Having a solid understanding of how language changes, and why, gives us both an appreciation for language change and the people who advance it, and a solid foundation that we can use to make more equitable editorial decisions.