Which scenario best explains the spread of a language change through a speech community?

• A. It is mandated by government policy.
• B. It spreads solely through children's speech.
• C. A feature gains prestige and is adopted widely because it signals education or social status.
• D. It is adopted only in informal writing.

Answer: (C)

The spread of a language change through a speech community is driven by the social value attached to the feature. When a linguistic form gains prestige—being linked to education, sophistication, or higher social status—speakers adopt it to signal belonging to those valued groups. As this social meaning spreads, more people imitate the form, broadening its use across the community. This social diffusion captures how changes propagate organically, not just because of policy, child speech alone, or usage in informal writing. So, a feature that becomes prestigious and is widely adopted to signal status is the clearest explanation for how a language change spreads.