scholarly journals Die "unsichtbare Hand" in der Sprache. Eine kritische Betrachtung von Kellers Sprachwandeltheorie

2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francina Ladstätter
Keyword(s):  
Language Change ◽  
Invisible Hand ◽  
Factory Worker ◽  
Main Interest ◽  
Hand Model ◽  
Job Titles ◽  
Job Advertisements ◽  
Theory Of Language ◽  
Main Criticism ◽  
Clear Increase

How is language change effected and how does it proceed? In this article the central concepts of Rudi Keller's much-quoted work "Sprachwandel: von der unsichtbaren Hand in der Sprache" ("On Language Change. The Invisible Hand in Language") are introduced and the main criticism presented. Following this first part, Keller's theory of language change is related to the concrete example of linguistic changes in job advertisements. The main interest here is in the enhancement of job titles ("Gebrauch von aufwertenden Berufs- und Personenbezeichnungen"). 26,000 job advertisements from 1950 to 1999 are analysed in the empirical part. The advertising copies show, for example, a clear increase in the use of "Mitarbeiter" resp. "Mitarbeiterin" ("employee") instead of "kaufm. Angestellte" ("clerk"), "Fabrikarbeiter" ("factory worker"), "Magazingehilfe" ("storeman") or the like. The second part of this article shows how this aspect of language change can be understood through Keller's Invisible-Hand model.

Erklärung und Prognose von Sprachwandel

1989 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudi Keller
Keyword(s):  
Language Change ◽  
Invisible Hand ◽  
Strict Sense ◽  
Linguistic Change ◽  
Hand Model ◽  
Correct Statement ◽  
The Invisible

SummaryRoger Lass (1980) holds that at present there are no intellectually satisfying concepts for explaining linguistic change. In this article Lass’ hypothesis and his arguments are discussed and a type of explanation for language change is outlined t hat meets the requirements for a satisfying theory and that is not invalidated by Lass’ arguments against explanations of linguistic change: the ‘invisible hand’ model.As an example the disappearance of German englisch in the sense of angelic is analysed in terms of the invisible hand model and it. is shown(i) that this is an explanation in the strict sense of “explanation”,(ii) that language change is not predictable in a strict sense, and(iii) that nevertheless this is no contradiction to Lass’ correct statement that explanation implies prediction.

Language as a phenomenon of the third kind

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-229
Author(s):  
Ewa Dąbrowska
Keyword(s):  
Language Change ◽  
Invisible Hand ◽  
Social Phenomenon ◽  
Speech Community ◽  
Communicative Interaction ◽  
Levels Of Abstraction ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
The Third ◽  
Dual Perspective ◽  
Micro Level

AbstractWhile many linguists view language as either a cognitive or a social phenomenon, it is clearly both: a language can live only in individual minds, but it is learned from examples of utterances produced by speakers engaged in communicative interaction. In other words, language is what (Keller 1994. On language change: The invisible hand in language. London: Taylor & Francis) calls a “phenomenon of the third kind”, emerging from the interaction of a micro-level and a macro-level. Such a dual perspective helps us understand some otherwise puzzling phenomena, including “non-psychological” generalizations, or situations where a pattern which is arguably present in a language is not explicitly represented in most speakers’ minds. This paper discusses two very different examples of such generalizations, genitive marking on masculine nouns in Polish and some restrictions on questions with long-distance dependencies in English. It is argued that such situations are possible because speakers may represent “the same” knowledge at different levels of abstraction: while a few may have extracted an abstract generalization, others approximate their behaviour by relying on memorised exemplars or lexically specific patterns. Thus, a cognitively realistic usage-based construction grammar needs to distinguish between patterns in the usage of a particular speech community (a social phenomenon) and patterns in speakers’ minds (a cognitive phenomenon).

Exploring Library Core Competencies: A Text Mining Study of American Library Association’s Job Advertisements From 2006 Through 2017

2021 ◽  
pp. 089443932110272
Author(s):  
Qinghong Yang ◽  
Zehong Shi ◽  
Yan Quan Liu
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Core Competency ◽  
Analytical Investigation ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
American Library ◽  
Job Titles ◽  
Job Advertisements ◽  
Processing Techniques

Are core competency requirements for relevant positions in the library shifting? Applying natural language processing techniques to understand the current market demand for core competencies, this study explores job advertisements issued by the American Library Association (ALA) from 2006 to 2017. Research reveals that the job demand continues to rise at a rate of 13% (2006–2017) and that the requirements for work experience are substantially extended, diversity of job titles becomes prevalent, and rich service experience and continuous lifelong learning skills are becoming more and more predominant for librarians. This analytical investigation informs the emerging demands in the American job market debriefing the prioritization and reprioritization of the current core competency requirements for ALA librarians.

scholarly journals The System of Balinese Language Inheritance at International Tourism Destinations in Bali

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Ni Nyoman Seri Malini ◽  
Luh Putu Laksminy ◽  
Ni Ketut Ngurah Sulibra
Keyword(s):  
Language Change ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
First Language ◽  
Young Generation ◽  
Language Preservation ◽  
Tourism Destinations ◽  
Theory Of Language ◽  
Younger Generation ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
Study Sites

This study aims at finding out and analyzing the Balinese language preservation model by Balinese people, especially the young generation in tourism destinations, namely Sanur, Kuta, Ubud, Tanah Lot and Lovina. The research focuses on the following: 1) the patterns of usage of the language, 2) attitude of the younger generation towards Balinese language and 3) system of inheritance of mother tongue on those study sites. Data was obtained through observation and distribution of questionnaires, along with interview and note-taking techniques. Research samples are children and adolescents born in Bali and speak Balinese as their first language, and quota technique is applied to set the number of members for each group, i.e. 25 people. The data was analyzed using the theory of language choice and the theory of language change. The results show that the younger generation have positive attitude towards their native language, i.e. Balinese, and they still use it in all domains, especially within families and neighborhoods. The system of Balinese language inheritance occurred in both formal and informal ways. The formal way is through a medium to reinforce Balinese language as an obligatory lesson taught from elementary to high schools/vocational schools, publishing Regional Legislation implemented in a Decree and reflected in the curriculum. The informal way is through Balinese language revitalization: Balinese language succession to the next generation, Balinese language development by means of conducting research, seminars & congress. The development is aligned with the progress of science and technology, the utilization of Balinese language by using it as an inter-ethnic communication medium in everyday life and cultural activities, as well as the utilization of Balinese language on print media, i.e. Bali Post in columns named Orti Bali and Mediaswari.

Intersubjectification in constructional change

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-120
Author(s):  
Martin Hilpert ◽  
Samuel Bourgeois
Keyword(s):  
Language Change ◽  
Process Of Change ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Corpus Data ◽  
Theory Of Language

Abstract This paper addresses constructional change in a dialogical construction that is illustrated by utterances such as sarcastic much?, which typically serve the purpose of an interactional challenge. Drawing on web-based corpus data, we argue that this construction is currently undergoing a process of change that expands its range of possible uses. Specifically, we observe the emergence of uses with a different intersubjective function, in which the writer does not aim for confrontation but is rather seeking the solidarity and alignment of the addressee. We offer an account of this development in terms of constructional change, and we use this case study to explore how intersubjectification and the dialogic nature of language can be accommodated more thoroughly in a constructional theory of language change.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document