Lexis and Semantics

Question 1

Denotative and connotative meanings

Answer 1

The literal (denotative) and associated (connotative) meanings of words

Question 2

Figurative language

Answer 2

Language used in a non-literal way in order to describe something in another’s terms (e.g. simile or metaphor)

Question 3

Semantic fields

Answer 3

Groups of words connected by a shared field of reference

Question 4

Synonyms

Answer 4

Words that have equivalent meanings

Question 5

Antonyms

Answer 5

Words that have contrasting meanings

Question 6

Hypernyms

Answer 6

Words that label categories, e.g: animal (this category would include words like dog, cat, and rabbit) - so words composed of hyponyms

Question 7

Hyponyms

Answer 7

Words that can be included in a larger, more general category (e.g. the hyponyms car, bus, aeroplane as a form of the hypernym transport)

Question 8

Levels of formality

Answer 8

Vocabulary styles including slang, colloquialisms, taboo, formal and fixed levels

Question 9

Occupational register

Answer 9

A technical vocabulary associated with a particular occupation or activity

Question 10

Sociolect

Answer 10

A language style associated with a particular social group

Question 11

Dialect

Answer 11

A language style associated with a particular geographical region

Question 12

Neology

Answer 12

The process of new word formation, including the following: blends, compounds, acronyms, initialism, eponyms

Question 13

Semantic change

Answer 13

The process of words changing meaning, including the following: narrowing, broadening, amelioration, pejoration, semantic reclamation

Question 14

Blend

Answer 14

A word formed by joining parts of two or more older words (e.g. brunch from breakfast and lunch), or, the reduction of a words to one of its parts (e.g. flu from influenza)

Question 15

Compounds

Answer 15

Joining two existing words into one word

Question 16

Calque

Answer 16

A word or a phrase borrowed from another language by literal, word-for-word translation.

Question 17

Semantic loan

Answer 17

A subcategory of calques: the extension of the meaning of a word to include new, foreign meanings.

Question 18

Eponyms

Answer 18

A proper noun that becomes commonly used for an idea it is associated with, usually by changing part of its speech. (e.g. Orwellism)

Question 19

Loanword

Answer 19

A word borrowed from another language

Question 20

Onomatopoeic word

Answer 20

A word which imitates natural sounds

Question 21

Idiolect

Answer 21

One’s unique patterns of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation

Question 22

Initialism

Answer 22

Where abbreviations become words. They differ from acronyms in that each letter is pronounced separately.

Question 23

Amelioration

Answer 23

When a word’s meaning improves or becomes more positive over time

Question 24

Pejoration

Answer 24

When a word’s meaning becomes more negative over time.

Question 25

Semantic reclamation

Answer 25

Reclamation aims to remove the negative connotations of the word and re-evaluate its place in our lexicon.