Essay Question: Despite concern from prescriptivists, change and variation always enrich the

English language. To what extent do you agree? Refer to both contemporary and historical
language in your response.

By its nature, language is constantly changing, evolving, and adapting to meet the needs of its
users. Historically, the shift in language was frequently brought through catastrophic
influences, such as colonisation, migration and invasion. Most notably, French influence
from the Norman Conquest in 1066 allowed for an influx of over 500 French lexemes,
including ‘crown,’ ‘throne’ and ‘beef.’ Furthermore, the influences of Germanic, Romance
languages and Greek on the English language has enriched the English vocabulary by
providing a large number of synonyms or near synonyms. This enables new ways of
expression as seen in the large number of idiolects, sociolects and ethnolects. As author Hugh
Lunn suggests, language is a representation of one’s identity as “we are the words we use,”
language users create new neologisms to represent new inventions, discoveries and thoughts.
The recent global pandemic has seen the influx of essential neologisms for new discoveries,
such as ‘COVID-19,’ and ‘delta variant,’ but has also resulted in the creation of new lexemes
to represent new concepts. This includes the use of shortenings, blends and compounds to
coin new lexemes such as ‘menty-b,’ ‘strollout’ and ‘hate-follow.’ This furthers the needs of
language user’s demand for linguistic representation is what drives language change, rapidly
improving language as it becomes more useful and representative. Therefore, the progression
of language to fulfill its purpose enables language to become increasingly more rich and
sophisticated.

Given that the use of language allows for self expression, language variation can enhance
communication in circumstances where there is a known, direct audience.
- 'Like variation in our manner of dress, stylistic variations in language cannot be
judged as appropriate or not without reference to the participants in the interchange.
For example, you would not speak to a five-year-old child, an intimate friend, and a
professor using the same style of speech.' - Frank Parker and Kathryn Riley (linguists)
- https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-language/how-important-is-language-

variation-towards-language-english-language-essay.php

- https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-linguistic-variation-1691242

While changes in language conventions allow for simplicity in certain settings, a formal
standard remains highly necessary to facilitate clear communication. The prescriptivist view
in society views Standard English as the variety “speakers are supposed to acquire” and
believe those that use a non-standard variety are “recalcitrant, lazy and incompetent.” The
idea that standard languages represent a kind of linguistic best practice has been upheld for
many centuries, with the first dictionary being written due to the English language being
perceived as having been “exposed to the corruptions of ignorance, and caprices of
innovation.” In the modern-day society, a codified variety of language still holds overt
prestige in society and is defined by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting
Authority [ACARA] as the variety “that is used in formal settings.” The use of standard
language conventions is therefore encouraged by the Department of Education to enable the
younger generation to effectively communicate with people from different social and
economic backgrounds in day-to-day contexts, as well as to prevent ambiguity in formal
settings. This is particularly important in a society where language change is present given
that the meaning of many lexemes has broadened over time, such as the meaning of the
lexeme ‘literally’. Whilst it was originally used in the literal sense, it has also acquired a
figurative meaning, which may be ambiguous when used in certain settings. Upholding
standard language conventions enriches the English language as it ensures understandability
and minimises ambiguity, particularly in formal settings. Essentially, a codified and
unchanged variety of the English language promotes readability, which is vital for effective
communication in education, legislative contexts as well as certain informal contexts.