... was thought to be the more prestigious of the two languages (Graddol et al, 2000: 176). A second variety of language contact, type B, which is more sudden, results from invasion or migration of a language speaking community to one which it is not normally in contact with (Samuels, 1972: 92). This type of contact can be seen in the Scandinavian invasion of England. In contact of type B there is a much quicker adaptation to the new style of language incorporating changes in grammar, phonology and lexis, than in contact of a type A situation. Johanson gives specific names to varying types of language contact situations. It is said that language A is the weaker of the two languages and that language B is stronger and more prestigious. A situation where the dominant language B influences the weaker language A would be known as adoption. Imposition is where ...

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