Language Change- Key Terms

Question 1

Acronym

Answer 1

A word formation process by which the first letters of a name are adopted as a new word. e.g. FIFA, UNESCO

Question 2

Amelioration

Answer 2

A word used in semantics when a word has moved from an unpleasant meaning to a more pleasant one. e.g. silly

Question 3

Archaic

Answer 3

A word which was once in common usage but are no longer. e.g. whom

Question 4

Blend

Answer 4

The dovetailing of two new words to form a new one. e.g. motel from motor and hotel, twigloo from twig and igloo

Question 5

Borrowings

Answer 5

A word from another language adopted into English. e.g. chocolate from the French chocolat

Question 6

Broadening

Answer 6

The process by which a word changes its meaning to take in a wider group of objects. e.g. ship which used to mean any type of vessel but now means a water vessel

Question 7

Coinage

Answer 7

The invention of a totally new terms, such as trade names for one company’s product. e.g. coke, hoover, teflon

Question 8

Compound

Answer 8

A word formation process which introduces two existing words and creates a new meaning. Compounds can be solid (basketball), hyphenated (half-time) or open (blind date).

Question 9

Connotation

Answer 9

Associations with a word.

Question 10

Conversion

Answer 10

A word formation process in which a word crosses unchanged from one word class to another. e.g. limo which has moved from a noun to a verb

Question 11

Corpus

Answer 11

The total body of written materials, which are used for research.

Question 12

Derivation

Answer 12

Words that are adapted using prefixes (at the beginnings of words), infixes (in the middle) and suffixes (at the ends). e.g. in-voluntary using the prefix in-

Question 13

Elision

Answer 13

The omission of a sound or syllable when speaking. e.g. it’s, let’s

Question 14

Etymology

Answer 14

The study of the original meaning of a word.

Question 15

Lexis

Answer 15

The vocabulary of a language.

Question 16

Lingua Franca

Answer 16

A language which acts as a common tongue to people who speak a variety of local languages. English is a worldwide lingua franca enabling people from all around the world to communicate in a language learnt and understood by the majority.

Question 17

Morphology

Answer 17

Study of morphemes, the smallest units you can break a word down into.

Question 18

Narrowing

Answer 18

When a word changes its meaning and becomes more specific than the original. e.g. bread which was used in the bible to mean any type of food but now means one item

Question 19

Obsolete

Answer 19

A word is said to be obsolete when it is no longer used at all.

Question 20

Orthography

Answer 20

The study of spelling.

Question 21

Pejoration

Answer 21

Opposite to Amelioration. When a word moves from a pleasant meaning to a less pleasant one. e.g. mistress

Question 22

Political Correctness

Answer 22

This is a political initiative to try to sweep out of the language any terms which offend minority groups. Trying to avoid offending people, some feel it is a type of censorship.

Question 23

Register

Answer 23

This is the term used to describe a particular style of language. Certain lexical and grammatical features add up to the overall effect. e.g. the register of a tabloid newspaper, which has emotive words, minor sentences and puns.

Question 24

Runes

Answer 24

The system of writing used by early Germanic peoples from at least 300 AD. They are thought to come from a Greek alphabet. They were angular and generally carved onto trees, metal objects or stone.

Question 25

Semantic Shift

Answer 25

When a word adopts a slightly different meaning, or a definite change. e.g. mouse used to mean a small animal but now means a controller on a computer

Question 26

Slang

Answer 26

A factory of language change, consistently making new words. Often used by different groups to give themselves identity.

Question 27

Standard English

Answer 27

Dialect of English which is associated with education and class. Used in textbooks, education and taught to foreign learners. Known to most people as the type of language used by the BBC.

Question 28

Standardisation

Answer 28

The process of moving from a situation where everyone spoke and wrote in their own individual fashion, to the present day, when we all use the common variety if standard English to communicate to wider audiences. Accelerated by the introduction of the printing press by Caxton in 1476 and development of widescale dictionaries in the 18th century. Standardisation is strongly reinforced by factors such as computing, international media and educational policies.

Question 29

Syntax

Answer 29

The ordering of words in a sentence, according to the rules which govern language. e.g. the subject comes before the verb