Frameworks - Lexis and Semantics Flashcards
Semantics Key Words
Semantics
The study of meanings and how they are constructed and interpreted.
Denotation
The literal meaning of a word.
Connotation
An association or emotions that are raised from a word.
Ambiguity
Can be interpreted in more than one way.
Implication
The implied meaning behind a word.
Hypernym
The label for a specific group.
Hyponym
Specific words within a group.
Semantic Shifts
The process by which a word changes meaning.
Bleaching
When some words lose their original force and specificity.
Leakage
Refers to the use of a word beyond its immediate meaning.
Broadening/Generalistaions
When the meaning of a word gradually becomes less specific and extends to a wider sense then the original meaning.
Narrowing
The meaning of a word gradually becomes more specific.
Amelioration
A word with a severe/taboo meaning gradually becoming less negative and milder in its use.
Perjoration
The process of a word with neutral or positive connotations gradually becoming negative.
Archaic Lexis
Old fashioned words.
Obsolete Lexis
Words which are no longer used.
Register
A term used to describe whether a text carries a formal or informal tone.
Collocation
When two existing words are habitually put together to form new expressions.
Euphemism
When vague or mild language is used to soften the the impact where a stronger alternative would have offended the receiver.
Dysphemism
Words used to shock or cause offense to the receiver. The opposite to a euphemism.
Initialism
A let of letters pronounced individually that stand for a group, idea or institution (BBC, NYD).
Eponym
When the noun is given the name of the inventor.
Affixation
When affixes are added to an existing word.
Compounding
When two words are stuck together to make an entirely new word (thunder-storm).
Blending
When two words are moulded together to form a new word, usually with the start of one word with the end of another.
Shortening
When a section of the word has been removed from the end.
Conversion
When a word changes the word class it belongs to, to give it a new meaning (Google, ‘Google it’).
Acronym
Formed by pronouncing a set of initial letters as a word (NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation).
Proper Names
When the name of a brand becomes synonymous with the product itself (Hoover).
Types of Adverbial Clauses
-Time
-Place
-Purpose
-Manner
-Condition
-Comparison
Adverbial Clauses
-A clause containing a subject and verb that acts as an adverb to modify the main clause of a sentence.
-Adverbial phrases and adverbial clauses can be positioned at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, depending on where you want to place emphasis.
