Language change is driven by both external and internal factors, impacting various language systems. The history of English exemplifies how cultural influences have shaped its evolution. Peter Trudgill highlights the concept of least effort as a motivator for language change.
Language change can be attributed to external and internal factors. External sources, such as cultural changes and language contact, play a significant role in influencing language evolution. Internal factors, like the need for efficiency in communication or ease of pronunciation, contribute to linguistic modifications over time.
Historical linguistics studies these processes and how they impact various language systems, including phonological, morphological, lexical, syntactic, and semantic aspects. For example, the history of the English language showcases how influences from different cultures and historical events have shaped its development from Old English to Modern English.
Peter Trudgill notes that language change is a constant phenomenon, influenced by factors like the least effort principle, where words undergo slight modifications over generations to facilitate easier communication.
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