Gender Keyterms Flashcards
Marked form
Stands out as different from the norm.
Unmarked form
The norm, which marked forms compared to
Semantic derogation
the sense of negative connotations that some lexical items have attatched to them
Semantic deterioration
The process by which lexical items have negative connotations attached to them
Covert prestige
A form of high status given to non–standard forms or giving something status which is not normally given status in society.
Covert marking
Marking that is understood and accepted – in the antonyms young and old which can be used to ask someone their age so e.g. ‘how old are you?’ ‘how young are you?’ young is the marked and old is the unmarked.
Overt marking
Overt marking
An obvious stating of a norm where the word deviating from the norm is flagged by the addition of a suffix e.g. waiter/waitress or through some other modification e.g. lady doctor
Generic terms
The use of masculine pronouns (“him/his/he”) as generic pronouns when the gender is non–specific is no longer considered acceptable as they suggest a male–centric world.
Androcentric world
Focused or centred on men.
Patriarchal forms
Words that indicate men’s powerful e.g. i guess””
Gender marking
Words that indicate someone’s gender e.g. ‘girl’ ‘boy’
Terms of endearment
A term of endearment is a word or phrase used to address or describe a person, animal or inanimate object for which the speaker feels love or affection.
Patronymic forms
Naming where marital status is indicated by wives taking a husband’s surname.
Semantic derogation
Language which is culturally associated and used in relation to women which is derogatory
