Which of the following are cited as reasons for language change?

• A. Political correctness
• B. Prescriptivism
• C. Descriptivism
• D. Technology, social changes, travel, science

Answer: (D)

The main idea being tested is what kinds of forces actually drive language change. Language evolves as people adapt to new technologies, social norms, and circumstances of contact. Technology introduces new tools, platforms, genres, and needs for communication, so fresh vocabulary and expressions emerge. Social changes—like shifts in identity, power, and what counts as appropriate or prestigious language—shape what forms gain acceptance. Travel and contact between communities bring languages and dialects into contact, leading to borrowing and blending. Science and new discoveries add precise terminology that can diffuse into everyday use, changing both vocabulary and even usage patterns over time.

The other terms describe attitudes or frameworks rather than concrete drivers. Prescriptivism is about policing language by rules, not a force that generates change. Descriptivism is a stance of describing how language changes, rather than causing it. Political correctness is a social pressure that can influence language choices in certain contexts, but it isn’t a broad mechanism that explains language change across time and situations.