Lexis and Semantics

Question 1

What does Lexis mean?

Answer 1

The study of words

Question 2

Lexeme

Answer 2

Basic lexical unit of language/meaning. A word even ‘Bedroom’ is one as apart they wouldn’t have the same meaning.

Question 3

Lexical Field

Answer 3

A group of words linked by a common idea.

Question 4

Low frequency high register

Answer 4

Complex and difficult words.

Question 5

High frequency low register

Answer 5

Everyday, easy to understand, simpler words.

Question 6

Slang

Answer 6

Modern example of informal lexemes (newer than colloquial language). Can be age related, regional or from the work place.

Question 7

Colloquial language

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Loan words/Borrowing

Answer 8

When we take a word from another language (pronunciation and orthography may change). It may be for snobby reasons/ sound nicer/ more sophisticated.

Question 9

Calques

Answer 9

When we keep the semantic components of a lexeme but directly translate it into English.

Question 10

Compounding

Answer 10

A lexeme is formed by joining two (or more) words together (closed, hyphen, open).

Question 11

Homophones

Answer 11

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).

Question 12

Acronyms

Answer 12

RADAR- A way of shortening a phrase and it is pronounced as a word.

Question 13

Initialisms

Answer 13

BBC- A way of shortening a phrase and it is pronounced grapheme by grapheme. (Can have a hybrid).

Question 14

Clipping

Answer 14

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).

Question 15

Affixation

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Blends

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

Eponyms

Answer 17

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).

Question 18

Words from literature

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

What does semantics mean?

Answer 19

The study of meaning (includes the analysis of single words and sentences).

Question 20

Denotation

Answer 20

The main meaning of a word as it is defined in the dictionary.

Question 21

Connotation

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Pejoration

Answer 22

When a word had positive association but now has negative association e.g. silly.

Question 23

Amelioration

Answer 23

When a word had negative association but now has positive association e.g. wicked.

Question 24

Implication

Answer 24

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”.

Question 25

Ambiguity

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Polysemy/Polysemic

Answer 26

When a word has multiple meanings.

Question 27

Euphemisms

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

Dysphemism

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

Collocations

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

Synonyms

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

Antonyms

Answer 31

Words which have opposite meanings.

Question 32

Glossing

Answer 32

When a text producer believes a text recipient may not understand the word (or concept) being used so they explain it. Like scientific words.

Question 33

Numerical Lexis

Answer 33

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.