This component introduces students to the ways in which language varies depending on the contexts of production and reception. It covers how language choices create personal identities and how language varies over time from c1550 to the present day. Students apply key language frameworks and levels to written, spoken, and multimodal data.
This topic explores how the English writing system (graphology) and spelling conventions (orthography) have evolved from Old English to the present day. You will examine key changes such as the shift from runic to Latin script, the introduction of punctuation, and the standardisation of spelling following the printing press. Understanding these changes is crucial for analysing historical texts and appreciating why modern English looks and sounds the way it does.
Graphology covers the physical features of writing: letter forms, script types (e.g., insular minuscule, Carolingian minuscule), abbreviations, and layout. Orthography focuses on spelling rules and patterns, including the Great Vowel Shift's impact on spelling-pronunciation mismatches. This topic links to wider language change theories (e.g., functional theory, substratum theory) and helps you evaluate how social, technological, and political factors shape language.
Mastering this content allows you to confidently date and contextualise unseen historical texts in the exam. It also provides a foundation for understanding ongoing debates about spelling reform and the role of technology in language change. You will learn to identify specific graphological and orthographic features and explain their significance with precise terminology.
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