ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the question, is language change good or bad? The conclusion is that language change in and of itself is neither good nor bad. It can sometimes have beneficial aspects, such as facilitating pronunciation or comprehension, and it can sometimes have detrimental consequences, sometimes creating a greater burden for comprehension and language learning. The mostly negative popular attitudes towards change in language are discussed. Kinds of language change are addressed, with attention in particular to the kinds of change that people notice most often. Claims about why languages change are considered. The question of whether language change is good or bad is restricted here to whether it is good or bad for purposes of communication. The fact that particular changes can be good for some aspects of language and bad for others is explained and exemplified. The interchange of sound change and analogy is also explained and exemplified. The role of sociolinguistic judgements of prestige and stigma are clarified.
