We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Linguistics: An invisible hand.
- Authors
Fitch, W. Tecumseh
- Abstract
The article examines the impact of quantitative relationship between how frequently a word is used and how rapidly it changes over time. According to the author, this relationship raised intriguing questions about the way individual behaviors determine large-scale linguistic and cultural change. These intriguing questions were examined through research papers that analyzed historical data which show that patterns of change depend how frequent the words are used. In addition, research papers document similar general patterns that frequently used words are hesitant to change.
- Subjects
WORD frequency; VOCABULARY -- Social aspects; SOCIAL change; LANGUAGE &; history; SOCIAL history; LINGUISTICS research; RESISTANCE to change; RECORDS management; DOCUMENTATION
- Publication
Nature, 2007, Vol 449, Issue 7163, p665
- ISSN
0028-0836
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/449665a