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Language geography is the branch of ', a study within the geography of language concerned with 'the analysis of the distribution patterns and spatial structures of languages in contact',Williams, C.H. (1980). ''Language contact and language change in Wales, 1901-1971: a study in historical geolinguistics.'' Welsh History Review 10, 207-238. but none have gained much currency. Many studies have researched the effect of 'language contact',Weinrich, U. (1974). ''Languages in contact.'' The Hague: Mouton. as the languages or dialects of peoples have interacted. This territorial expansion of language groups has usually resulted in the overlaying of languages upon existing speech areas, rather than the replacement of one language by another. An example could be sought in the Norman Conquest Of England , where Old French became the language of the aristocracy, and Middle English remained the language of the majority of the population.Burchfield, Robert {Link without Title} (2003). ''The English Language'', New York: Oxford University Press, 14. Linguistic geography, as a field, is dominated by or occupation.Giglioli, P.P. (1972). ''Language and social context.'' Harmondsworth: Penguin. Regarding such variations, lexicographer Robert Burchfield notes that their nature "is a matter of perpetual discussion and disagreement". As an example, he notes that "most professional linguistic scholars regard it as axiomatic that all varieties of English have a sufficiently large vocabulary for the expression of all the distinctions that are important in the society using it." He contrasts this with the view of the historian Professor John Vincent, who regards such a view as Burchfield concludes that "Resolution of such opposite views is not possible", though the "future of dialect studies and the study of class-marked distinctions are likely to be of considerable interest to everyone".Burchfield, Robert {Link without Title} (2003). ''The English Language'', New York: Oxford University Press, 128-130. In have been issued over the years, including Joseph Wright's ''English Dialect Dictionary'' (1896-1905), the ''Survey of English Dialects'' (1962-8), and ''The Linguistic Atlas of England'' (1978).Burchfield, Robert {Link without Title} (2003). ''The English Language'', New York: Oxford University Press, 125. NOTES SEE ALSO |
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