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Jean Aitchison Quotes

Purists behave as if there was a vintage year when language achieved a measure of excellence which we should all strive to maintain. In fact, there was never such a year. The language of Chaucer's or Shakespeare's time

Purists behave as if there was a vintage year when language achieved a measure of excellence which we should all strive to maintain. In fact, there was never such a year. The language of Chaucer's or Shakespeare's time was no better and no worse than that of our own - just different.

Writing, Years, Vintage

Jean Aitchison (2013). “Language Change: Progress Or Decay?”, p.14, Cambridge University Press

Word meanings are like stretchy pullovers, whose outline contour is visible, but whose detailed shape varies with use.

Writing, Use, Shapes

Jean Aitchison (1997). “The Language Web: The Power and Problem of Words - The 1996 BBC Reith Lectures”, p.65, Cambridge University Press

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