Language Change

Cambridge University Press eBooks, pp. 131–155

Abstract

The chapter explains the basic principles of linguistic change from a sociolinguistic variationist perspective. It begins with an explanation of the inextricable relationship between linguistic variation and change, and proceeds to demonstrate how language change can be observed, investigated, and explained. Sociolinguists can document and analyse language change using either the real-time method or the apparent-time construct; these methods and their advantages and pitfalls are explained and exemplified.

Authors 4

1. Enam Al‐Wer

   University of Essex

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Essex

2. Uri Horesh

   Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales

   Affiliation as printed

   Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales, Paris

3. Bruno Herin Aachen

   Leiden University · Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales

   Affiliation as printed

   Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales, Paris

   Universiteit Leiden

4. Rudolf de Jong Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Universiteit Leiden