A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics David Crystal

process. The phenomenon was first systematically investigated by comparative
philologists at the end of the eighteenth century, and in the twentieth century
by historical linguists and sociolinguists. All aspects of language are involved,
though most attention has been paid to phonology and lexis, where change is
most noticeable and frequent. See also change from above, language shift,
sound change.
language contact see contact (1)
language maintenance 267
language death A term used in linguistics for the situation which arises when
a language ceases to be used by a community; also called language loss or obsolescence,
especially when referring to the loss of language ability in an individual.
The term language attrition is sometimes used when the loss is gradual rather
than sudden. See also endangered language, obsolescence (2).
language diffusion
see diffusion
language documentation
see endangered languages
language engineering
see language planning
language family
language isolate
see family
see isolate
language learning In applied linguistics and psycholinguistics, the process
of internalizing a language – either a mother-tongue or a foreign language.
The factors which affect this process (such as the individual’s intelligence, memory
and motivation to learn) are seen as separate from those involved in the task of
language teaching.
language loss (1) A term used in language pathology for the disappearance
of language in an individual as a result of some trauma, such as brain damage or
shock. The loss may be permanent or temporary, and varies in the severity with
which it affects different aspects of language structure.
(2) See language death.
language loyalty A term used in sociolinguistics referring to a concern to
preserve the use of a language or the traditional form of a language, when that
language is perceived to be under threat. For example, many first-generation
immigrants to a country are extremely loyal to their first language, but attitudes
vary in the second generation. See also language attitudes, language maintenance,
language shift.
language maintenance A term used in sociolinguistics, referring to the extent
to which people continue to use a language once they are part of a community
in which another language has a dominant position. For example, immigrant
groups may maintain their language, out of a sense of language loyalty,
despite the dominance of the language of their host country (as has often happened