The Causes of Linguistic Change
Read The Causes of Linguistic Change and check the IELTS Reading answers. All living languages undergo changes of various kinds, for which there are various reasons. The changes that have caused most dispute are those in pronunciation. We have various sources of evidence for the pronunciations of e…
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All living languages undergo changes of various kinds, for which there are various reasons. The changes that have caused most dispute are those in pronunciation. We have various sources of evidence for the pronunciations of earlier times, like the evidence of spellings, the treatment of words borrowed from other languages or borrowed by them, the descriptions of contemporary grammarians, and the modern pronunciations in all the languages and dialects concerned. These, combined with a knowledge of the mechanism of speech production, can often give us a very good idea of the pronunciation of an earlier age, though absolute certainty is never possible. When we study the pronunciation of a language over any period of a few generations or more, we find that it is subject to change. Moreover, there are always large-scale regularities in the changes: for example, over a period of time, all the long a sounds in a language may change into long o sounds, or all the b sounds in a certain position (for example, at the end of a word) may change into p sounds. Such regular changes are often called sound laws. There are no universal sound laws, but simply particular sound laws for one given language at one given period.
Answers with explanations
- 27. sound laws
The gap needs a term that refers to "large-scale regularities". The passage introduces these regularities and explicitly states they are **often called sound laws**. The phrase **sound laws** fits the meaning and the three-word limit.
- 28. fashion
The gap requires a noun that acts as a cause in linguistic change related to prestige. Paragraph 3 identifies that **fashion plays a part** in this process, where people with **most prestige** are imitated. The word **fashion** is the correct answer.
- 29. children
The gap needs a plural noun representing those who fail to imitate exactly. The passage attributes one suggested cause of change to the fact that the **imitation of children is imperfect**, because they **never reproduce it exactly**. The word **children** fills the gap.
- 30. principle of ease
The gap calls for a term that describes the reduction of effort in speech. The text introduces this specific force as the **principle of ease**, which results in taking shortcuts to achieve an **economy of effort**. The phrase fits perfectly.
- 31. FALSE
The claim states it is impossible to know ancient pronunciations. The passage directly refutes this by asserting that various sources of evidence **can often give us a very good idea of the pronunciation of an earlier age**. Because the text directly contradicts the claim, it is FALSE.
- 32. NOT GIVEN
The claim compares the rate of change between different languages. While the passage acknowledges that **All living languages undergo changes**, it never compares whether some change more than others. Since the text is silent on comparative rates of change, the statement is NOT GIVEN.
- 33. TRUE
The claim suggests the middle classes drove certain English changes. The text supports this by hypothesizing that the upward mobility of the middle classes **probably carried elements of middle class dialect into upper class speech**, which led to changes in accepted pronunciation. This makes the statement TRUE.
- 34. NOT GIVEN
The claim asserts that certain specific sounds are difficult for all children. The passage notes broadly that the **imitation of children is imperfect** and contains random deviations. However, it never identifies particular English sounds that are universally difficult for them. Therefore, this is NOT GIVEN.
- 35. TRUE
The statement asserts that the word scant is easier to pronounce than skamt. The text confirms that the shift to scant achieved an **economy of effort** because the sounds are articulated in the same place in the mouth, which takes less energy. This supports the claim, making it TRUE.
- 36. NOT GIVEN
The claim makes a prediction about the future spelling of gnat. The passage notes that the *g* in **gnat** is no longer pronounced, but it focuses entirely on phonetic changes and makes no predictions about future **spelling** updates. Thus, it is NOT GIVEN.
- 37. TRUE
The claim states the spelling of temporary does not match its pronunciation. The text supports this by providing it as a modern example where a syllable is **dropped out**, noting it is **pronounced as if it were tempory**. This confirms the spelling no longer reflects the spoken form, making it TRUE.
- 38. A
The question asks to categorise the shift from b to p. The passage explicitly lists this phonetic shift as an example of **large-scale regularities**, which are termed sound laws. This corresponds directly to the option for large-scale change.
- 39. B
The question refers to the melodic pronunciation of Welsh English. The text cites this as a direct consequence of the **influence of Welsh** affecting English. This serves as a prime example of the **influence of one language on another**.
- 40. C
The question asks about the disappearance of the t sound in Christmas. The passage categorises this loss as a way we change pronunciation in order to **reduce effort**. This matches the option for the minimisation of effort.