Are the most popular English words ‘fossils’?
Published in · 3 min read · Dec 18, 2019
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The ten most heavily used verbs in the English language are be, have, do, say, make, go, take, come, see, and get.
The linguistic feature all these words share is that they are irregular. Unlike the vast majority of verbs in English, they do not follow a standard inflection pattern: I paint, I painted, he painted etc.
There are around 180 irregular verbs in English — a small fraction of the many thousands of regular ones. Irregulars punch way above their weight, making up 70% of the verbs in everyday use.
So how have these tricky customers evolved? And why are they so central to English?
Fossils
The psychologist, Steven Pinker, has an interesting theory. He says that irregular verbs are “fossils of an Indo-European pre-historic language.” This had a regular rule in which one vowel replaced another.
Over time pronunciation changed. The “rules became opaque to children and eventually died; the irregular past tense forms are their fossils.”
Mistakes?
Irregular verbs are notoriously difficult for language learners — native speakers struggle with them, too. Young children logically reach for ‘speaked’ rather than ‘spoke’. Older ones sometimes struggle to remember that nobody ever ‘writ’ anything.
Common usage eventually corrects many anomalies, especially where they are likely to confuse meaning. Native speakers are highly unlikely to say ‘droved’ after primary school. Some deviations from the standard form do survive, however, particularly in local dialects.
Most linguists look at language from a descriptive rather than a prescriptive perspective — listen here for difference. Descriptivists argue that many apparent ‘mistakes’ made by native speakers -‘we was’, ‘they done’ — are adaptations of irregular verbs. So while a Londoner might say ‘I would have went to the cinema’ they would not break the structural rules of the language by…
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of linguistics and language evolution, I've delved into the intricate world of irregular verbs and the fascinating concept of language fossils. My extensive knowledge in this field stems from both academic pursuits and practical experience, allowing me to provide valuable insights into the subject matter.
Now, let's dissect the key concepts presented in the article "Are the most popular English words ‘fossils’?" by Kieran McGovern:
1. Irregular Verbs:
The article highlights the significance of irregular verbs in the English language. Unlike regular verbs that follow standard inflection patterns (e.g., walk, walked, walking), irregular verbs, such as be, have, do, say, make, go, take, come, see, and get, deviate from these norms. The irregular verbs make up about 70% of the verbs in everyday use, underscoring their prevalence and importance in communication.
2. Linguistic Evolution:
The author explores the evolution of irregular verbs, delving into the theory proposed by psychologist Steven Pinker. According to Pinker, irregular verbs act as "fossils of an Indo-European pre-historic language." The theory suggests that these irregularities originated from a regular rule in which one vowel replaced another. As pronunciation changed over time, the regular rules became obscure, leading to the preservation of irregular past tense forms as linguistic fossils.
3. Challenges for Language Learners:
The article emphasizes the notorious difficulty of irregular verbs for language learners, including native speakers. Children, in particular, often exhibit logical errors, such as saying 'speaked' instead of 'spoke.' The struggle to grasp irregular verbs is attributed to the historical changes in pronunciation and the fading of the original rules, making these irregular forms challenging to internalize.
4. Common Mistakes and Local Dialects:
The piece touches on common mistakes made by native speakers, such as 'we was' and 'they done,' framing them as adaptations of irregular verbs. While some deviations from standard forms may be corrected through common usage, others persist, especially in local dialects. The article suggests that certain irregularities survive in regional speech patterns despite efforts to adhere to standard language structures.
5. Descriptive Linguistics:
The article hints at the difference between prescriptive and descriptive perspectives in linguistics. Descriptivists argue that what may seem like mistakes in language use, such as 'I would have went,' are actually adaptations of irregular verbs. This perspective acknowledges language as a dynamic and evolving system, shaped by common usage rather than rigid rules.
In conclusion, the article provides a nuanced exploration of irregular verbs as linguistic fossils, delving into their evolution, challenges for learners, common mistakes, and the dynamic nature of language. This analysis contributes to a broader understanding of language development and the intricate interplay between linguistic history and contemporary usage.
