Seminar 2.

Activity 1: Spot the change!

Identify and describe the examples of change. Tip: for b, c, f and g, think how you
would 'translate' the sentence into Present-day English.

e.g. Why look you so upon me? (Shakespeare, As You Like It, 3.5.69, c. 1600)

Simple present used for actions taking place at the moment of speaking  PDE
Question formed by SV inversion  PDE.
SYNTACTIC CHANGE

a. OE<īs> /i:s/ > ME <ice> / i:s/

b. But are there six labourer's sons educating in the universities at the
moment? (Kingsley, Alton Locke xiii.138)
c. a1325 (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 4025 Allso leun is migtful der.
'also the lion is a powerful deer' (pay attention only to the word in bold
type)
d. ME life /li:f/ > PDE life /laif/
e. OE scipu 'ships' vs. PDE ships
f. I was at Mr Barrons when Mr Paynter, which is my Master, Came
ther...(Elizabeth Clift's Letters; late 18th century)
g. 1801 M. EDGEWORTH Forester in Moral Tales I. 74 Pray, let me pass!

Activity 2:

 Read the article “Are ‘grammar nazis’ ruining the English language?” (Tom
Chivers, 2014. The Telegraph) and comment on the most relevant ideas and
how they relate to issues such as (i) language attitudes; (ii) language change.