All languages change and vary over time and space. The study of language change and variation is the ‘core
of the sociolinguistic enterprise’, and it has ‘a relatively short history’ (Chambers et al. 2002, p.1).
Diachronic change occurs in which the phonological, lexical, syntactic, semantic, discourse, pragmatic, and
other features of a language are modified over time. In addition, at any given moment, a language also has a
variety within itself among different communities of its speakers, and this variety is known as synchronic
variation. Lexical change and variation are among the most evident aspects of language change and variation.
In this essay assignment, you are expected to do the following:
a. Make a distinction between lexical change and lexical variation in English;
b. Explore the possible causes for English lexical change;
c. Analyze the major types of English lexical variation; and
d. Reflect on how such knowledge can be related to the learning and/or teaching of vocabulary.

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