Abstract
Language change is an inevitable and continuous process that affects all spoken languages. This study investigates the causes, patterns, and processes of language change from a sociolinguistic perspective. Key drivers identified include language contact, technological advancement, globalization, social factors, and internal structural evolution. The study further examines major linguistic theories that explain the mechanisms and motivations behind language change, illustrating these with examples from English, Hausa, and other languages. The findings confirm that language change is a natural and necessary phenomenon, essential for linguistic growth, adaptation, and the dynamic evolution of communication in human societies.
Keywords: Language change, Sociolinguistics, Semantic shift, Sound change, Language contact.
DOI: www.doi.org/10.36349/sojolics.2025.v01i02.024
author/Umar, H. A., Muhammad, A. I., Gambo, K. B., Ahmad, A., & Mustapha, R. Z.
journal/Sokoto JOLICS 1(2) | November 2025 |
