Lexis and Semantics Flashcards
What does Lexis mean?
The study of words
Lexeme
Basic lexical unit of language/meaning. A word even ‘Bedroom’ is one as apart they wouldn’t have the same meaning.
Lexical Field
A group of words linked by a common idea.
Low frequency high register
Complex and difficult words.
High frequency low register
Everyday, easy to understand, simpler words.
Slang
Modern example of informal lexemes (newer than colloquial language). Can be age related, regional or from the work place.
Colloquial language
Slang terms which have began to be used by society at large- commonly used by all. (Usually with people you are familiar with). Newspapers use it once it is established as colloquial.
Loan words/Borrowing
When we take a word from another language (pronunciation and orthography may change). It may be for snobby reasons/ sound nicer/ more sophisticated.
Calques
When we keep the semantic components of a lexeme but directly translate it into English.
Compounding
A lexeme is formed by joining two (or more) words together (closed, hyphen, open).
Homophones
A word that sounds the same (but may have a different spelling) that has different meanings. (letter and number homophones too e.g. U- You, 2- to).
Acronyms
RADAR- A way of shortening a phrase and it is pronounced as a word.
Initialisms
BBC- A way of shortening a phrase and it is pronounced grapheme by grapheme. (Can have a hybrid).
Clipping
A word is reduced to one of its parts. (Back, fore, middle, complex) e.g. Advertisement- advert/ad. More accessible and well known and informal (in some cases e.g. ad).
Affixation
A process by which bound morphemes are added to bases-when a suffix or prefix is added to change meaning, usually from a noun to verb.
Blends
When a word is formed by taking parts of two words and blending them into one e.g. smog- fog/smoke. More informal.
This example also links to lexical field for Victorian London etc.
Eponyms
Where someone’s name or title becomes a common noun (verb, adjective…) or brand eponyms where a products name becomes to commonly used it becomes the general term for the product np matter brand. e.g. Hansen’s Disease, Ohms, Sellotape, Answerphone- Ansaphone (orthography can vary).
Words from literature
When we adopt words from literature usually coinages/ neologisms (created for a specific reason) e.g. Robot (1920 Czech play-Robota), muggles, curse c.1000.
What does semantics mean?
The study of meaning (includes the analysis of single words and sentences).
Denotation
The main meaning of a word as it is defined in the dictionary.
Connotation
The personal, psychological and emotional associations aroused by a word. It is connected to culture and psychology and a word will hold different connotations for individuals.
Pejoration
When a word had positive association but now has negative association e.g. silly.
Amelioration
When a word had negative association but now has positive association e.g. wicked.
Implication
A meaning a speaker or writer intends but does not fully communicate it. Context plays a large role here. In conversations it is called ‘Conversational Implicature’. e.g. “A bus!” (at a bus stop)- really means “We must call the bus down before it passes us/ the bus we have been waiting for is here”.
Ambiguity
When a word has more than one meaning. e.g. Churchill Flies Back To Front- used in newspaper headlines for comedic and shocking effect by the absence of linking grammatical function words e.g. conjunctions and prepositions. Another example is gay. This causes ambiguity regarding the meaning of the word/phrase/sentence.
Polysemy/Polysemic
When a word has multiple meanings.
Euphemisms
When you substitute language that is less direct, vague and kinder for another that is considered harsh, blunt and offensive. Usually used when speaking about a embarrassing or unpleasant subject matter. e.g. dead- passed away.
Dysphemism
When you substitute more offensive, harsh, blunt and unkind language for one which is less offensive. e.g. dead- worm food. Usually with people who you are comfortable with- sarcastic to make humour and people with dark humor or malicious or cruel intentions to hurt someone emotionally- unkind.
Collocations
Words that are used together so often/ regularly and always in the same order that putting them the other way around seems wrong. Rules are formed about their use because of the association. e.g. Black and white, Mum and Dad, Salt and pepper.
Synonyms
Words which have similar meanings. The synonym may had a more accurate, precise or appropriate meaning than another word so it is carefully chosen. e.g. gay vs happy- gay has too much ambiguity and confusion especially for younger audiences as it is a polysemic word.
Antonyms
Words which have opposite meanings.
Glossing
When a text producer believes a text recipient may not understand the word (or concept) being used so they explain it. Like scientific words.
Numerical Lexis
A group of numbers within a text (statistics/facts like someone’s age/phone numbers…) which adds an element of accuracy, truthfulness and professionalism. This helps follow the Maxim of Quality.
