Language Change Vocab Flashcards
graphology
the writing system of a language, as well as other visual elements on the page
grammar
the rules for organizing meaning in a language
orthography
the part of language concerned with letters and spelling
phonology
the pronunciation and sound patterns which affect understanding of words
pragmatics
how the context in which words and phrases are used affects their meaning
morphology
the structure of words with their meaning
lexis
the words of a language
semantics
the meaning of words
syntax
the order of words in a sentence
coinage
the process by which a new word is created from nothing
neologism
a newly invented word
affixation
making a new word by adding prefixes or suffixes to an already existing word
conversion
creating a new word by changing its function/word class
telescoping
shortening or contracting words
acronym
words formed by pronouncing initialism as a word
abbreviation
a word formed by the initial letters of a word/phrase
compounding
making a new word by joining two words
blending
joining the beginning of one word to the end of another word
clipping
reducing the word but not changing the original meaning
coalescence
when two sounds merge into one sound
backformation
making a new word by removing part of the word
reduplication
sounds are repeated with identical or very slight changes
borrowing
words that are directly borrowed from another language
amelioration
the upgrading or elevation of a word’s meaning, becoming more positive
pejoration
the process by which a word’s meaning worsens
narrowing
a word’s meaning becomes more specific and less general
broadening
a word’s meaning becomes more broad/inclusive over time
standardisation
‘fixing’ and conforming the english language to a ‘normal’ or to a set of rules
archaic lexis
words that have fallen out of common use
obsolete lexis
words that are no longer used/useful
