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 was no better and no worse than that of our own - just different.

  Jean Aitchison

  Writing, Years, Vintage

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

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

  Jean Aitchison

  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

  9 Copy quote

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