Diachronic analysis of lexical changes in the English language: the influence of sociolinguistic factors

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive diachronic analysis of lexical changes in the English language, with a particular focus on the influence of various sociolinguistic factors. By examining the introduction of new words, the disappearance of archaic words, semantic shifts, and word frequency alterations, the research provides valuable insights into the complex interplay of social, cultural, historical, and technological forces that shape language evolution. To achieve this, an extensive and diverse corpus was compiled, encompassing written and spoken texts different historical periods, geographical regions, and sociolinguistic contexts, including literary works, newspapers, personal correspondence, transcripts of spoken discourse, and online texts such as blogs, social media, and forums. The study employed quantitative and qualitative methods to identify significant lexical changes and examined the relationships between specific sociolinguistic factors, such as social class, gender, ethnicity, and geographical region, and the observed changes. The research revealed correlations between sociolinguistic variables and the development of the English lexicon, thus providing a deeper understanding of how different social dynamics contribute to the shaping of the language. Additionally, the study assessed the impact of recent sociocultural and technological developments on the English lexicon and identified emerging trends in lexical change driven by factors such as social media, global mobility, and language contact. The findings offer valuable information on the potential future trajectory of the English vocabulary and its susceptibility to change in a rapidly globalizing world. In conclusion, the research makes a substantial contribution to our understanding of diachronic lexical changes in the English language and the role of sociolinguistic factors in shaping its development. The obtained scientific results support the argument that language evolution is deeply intertwined with social, cultural, and historical contexts and demonstrate the importance of integrating sociolinguistic perspectives in the study of language change. These findings open up new avenues for further research and exploration, including the examination of additional sociolinguistic factors, comparative studies with other languages, longitudinal studies, and experimental research investigating cognitive processes underlying lexical changes.