Lexis and semantics Flashcards
What is lexis?
word choice
What is an open word class?
A word class that can be changed or added to
What is a closed-word class?
Word classes that are rarely changed or added to
What are semantics?
How words are categorized
What is a synonym?
Words that sound different but have same meanings
What is an antonym?
Words with opposing meanings
What is a complementary antonym?
Words that are exact opposites
What is a gradable antonym?
Opposing words that lie on a continuous spectrum
eg, my ‘short’ isn’t the same as yours
What are collocations?
Words that typically appear together
What are euphemisms?
Socially accepted words or phrases to avoid saying something embarrassing
What are dysphemisms?
Harsher words used for humor
eg, he’s shitting through the eye of a needle
What is a hyponym?
The least specific, most general word
eg, food
What is a hypernym?
More specific term
eg, Granny Smith
What is a connotation?
Associations made around a word
What is a denotation?
A dictionary definition
What is cohesion?
Words/phrases that stick texts together
(make texts flow)
What is anaphoric referencing?
Referring back to a name
(name before)
What is cataphoric referencing?
Referring forwards to a name
(name after)
What is substitution?
Replacing a word with another to avoid repetition
What is an ellipsis?
Missing out words in a sentence
eg, where did you go on holiday?
-Portugal
What is figurative language?
5 types
Words used to describe something but it’s not literally true
Simile.
Metaphor.
Hyperbole.
Personification.
Onomatopoeia.
What is a conceptual metaphor?
A metaphor that describes something as something else ON A CONCEPT
eg, war metaphor
What is an idom?
A phrase made of words to form a different meaning
eg, its raining cats and dogs
What is a metaphor?
Describes something as something else
