Lexis

Question 1

What is a ‘Lexical Choice’.

Answer 1

A choice of word.

Question 2

Informal/Formal.

Answer 2

The way in which one writes or speaks. Informal uses more colloquialisms, for example.

Question 3

Simple/basic language.

Answer 3

Simple language, basic lexemes.

Question 4

Sophisticated/complex language.

Answer 4

Using words that aren’t basic.

Question 5

Archaic Lexis.

Answer 5

Language from history - Nordic, Old English.

Question 6

Monosyllabic.

Answer 6

One syllable - eat, drink, die.

Question 7

Polysyllabic.

Answer 7

More than one syllable - rhetoric, tiger, Sterek.

Question 8

Technical jargon.

Answer 8

Words associated with a certain subject - tech speak.

Question 9

Common lexis.

Answer 9

Words used everyday - greetings.

Question 10

Lexical (semantic) fields.

Answer 10

Words that fit into the field of a certain subject or topic - equestrianism, surfer, gaming.

Question 11

Collocation.

Answer 11

Word association.

Question 12

Dialect

Answer 12

The specific language used in a specific area - Forest Dialect, Herefordian Dialect.

Question 13

Idiolect.

Answer 13

The specific way someone speaks.

Question 14

Sociolect.

Answer 14

The dialect of a particular class.

Question 15

Neologism.

Answer 15

New words or phrases coined into the English language - twerk, Muggle, selfie.

Question 16

Denotation

Answer 16

The literal meaning of a word.

Question 17

Connotation

Answer 17

Word association.

Question 18

Polysemy.

Answer 18

Having more than one meaning.

Question 19

Euphemism.

Answer 19

An indirect method of speaking - often used for insults or crude suggestions.

Question 20

Dysphemism.

Answer 20

Used to enhance what they really mean/to sound negative.

Question 21

Idioms.

Answer 21

A group of words that has a meaning, but not deducible (Raining cats and dogs).

Question 22

Amelioration.

Answer 22

When words acquire positive connotations over time.

Question 23

Pejoration.

Answer 23

Where words acquire negative connotations over time.

Question 24

Etymology.

Answer 24

The journey of a word - where it comes from, and how it evolves over time - e.g ‘Dolphin’. In Greek - ‘fish with a womb’.

Question 25

Intensifier.

Answer 25

All intensifiers are adverbs,. Put emphasis on other words - ‘Proper sick’.

Question 26

Vernacular.

Answer 26

Another word synonymous with ‘informal’ and ‘colloquial’.

Question 27

Syllipsis.

Answer 27

When a word governs two meanings - ‘You held your breath and the door’.

Question 28

Motherese Language.

Answer 28

Language used around young children or animals - ‘Look at you’, ‘Aren’t you cute!’

Question 29

Conversion/Zero Derivation.

Answer 29

The creation of a word from an existing word without any change in form - ‘I’ll Google it.’. - Google is used as a verb when it was originally used as a noun.

Question 30

Hypocorisms.

Answer 30

Nicknames/Petnames - ‘Sourwolf’ , ‘Danny’ for ‘Daniel’.

Question 31

Number/Letter Homophones.

Answer 31

Using a number or letter to represent a whole sound. ‘Gr8, m8’.

Question 32

Initialism.

Answer 32

A type of abbreviation which is made up of letters of some name or phrase, but does not make a pronounceable word - FBI, MI6, CIA.

Question 33

Acronym.

Answer 33

Formed from letters of other words - pronounceable - NASA, JARVIS, SHIELD.

Question 34

Positive reinforcement.

Answer 34

Encouraging words used by one speaker to another. Often shows a power imbalance.