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IGCSE English Language > Glossary of Language terms > Flashcards

Glossary of Language terms Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

Abbreviation

A

shortened form of a word

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2
Q

Accent

A

distinctive way of pronouncing a language

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3
Q

Acronym

A

series of initials that stand for a much longer group of words

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4
Q

Allegorical

A

symbolic representation of abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete forms

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5
Q

Alliteration

A

repetition of the initial letter in adjacent words

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6
Q

Analogies

A

similar concepts for the purpose of clarification and example

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7
Q

Antithesis

A

words balanced to create contrast

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8
Q

Argumentative

A

designed to convince reader to accept a particular view

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9
Q

Assonance

A

repetition of the vowel sound in neighbouring words

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10
Q

Autobiography

A

account of a person’s life written by him/herself

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11
Q

Bathos

A

lapse in mood from the sublime to the trivial or ridiculous: anti-climax

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12
Q

Biography

A

account of a person’s life written by someone else

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13
Q

Blurb

A

publisher’s brief description of a book, printed on the back cover

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14
Q

Brainstorm

A

immediate thoughts and associations for a particular topic

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15
Q

Brochure

A

pamphlet containing illustrations and information about a product or service

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16
Q

Chronological

A

arrangement of events in order in which they occurred

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17
Q

Clause

A

group of words containing a finite verb

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18
Q

Cliche

A

well-known and overused phrase

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19
Q

Climax

A

point of great intensity in a narrative text

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20
Q

Collate

A

collect and combine information from two or more sources

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21
Q

Collocation

A

habitual juxtaposition of a particular word with another word; fixed phrase

22
Q

Colloquialisms

A

everyday spoken language

23
Q

Commentary

A

a descriptive account of an event as it happens

24
Q

Complex sentence

A

sentence consisting of one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses

25
Q

Compound adjective

A

two or more adjectives linked by a hyphen to describe the same noun

26
Q

Compound sentence

A

sentence formed from two simple sentences using “and”, “but”, “so” or “or”

27
Q

Connective

A

joining word used to form compound or complex sentence

28
Q

Context

A

surrounding parts or setting of a text

29
Q

Coordination

A

joining of two sentences to make one using the connective “and”, “but”, “so” or “or”

30
Q

Cue cards

A

notes to help speakers remember a speech

31
Q

Denotation

A

literal dictionary meaning of a word

32
Q

Description

A

attempt to enable the reader to visualise something

33
Q

Dialect

A

form of a language, including grammatical variations, peculiar to a specific region or social group

34
Q

Dialogue

A

spoken words between two people; speeches by characters in a narrative or drama text

35
Q

Direct speech

A

speech reproduced exactly as it was spoken, in inverted commas

36
Q

Discourse markers

A

adverbials at the start of paragraphs to indicate direction of the discussion

37
Q

Discursive

A

discusses something informatively from different viewpoints

38
Q

Dramatic irony

A

when audience knows more than the character concerned

39
Q

Editorial

A

newspaper or magazine editor’s published comment on a topical issue

40
Q

Embedded clause

A

a subordinate clause within a sentence, usually marked by commas

41
Q

Emotive

A

language evoking an emotional reaction

42
Q

Empathy

A

ability to identify with the experience and feelings of someone else

43
Q

Euphemism

A

tactful or evasive way of referring to something controversial or distasteful

44
Q

Explicit

A

stated clearly

45
Q

Figurative

A

non-literal use of language

46
Q

Finite verb

A

verb that has a subject

47
Q

Flyer

A

leaflet distributed to advertise an event or product

48
Q

Genre

A

category of speech or writing

49
Q

Gist

A

main ideas contained in a text or speech

50
Q

Gothic

A

fictional horror or mystery in medieval-type setting

51
Q

Grammatical item

A

word with no independent meaning which facilitates syntax

52
Q

Hyperbole

A

deliberate exaggeration to make a point

IGCSE English Language (1 decks)

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