Lexis + Semantics Flashcards by zack pilgrim

What is a Denotation?

Semantical Term
- The literal, generally accepted, dictionary definition of a word
- Example: ‘she was cold’- she was literally cold in temperature
- No pragmatical meaning.
- Objective.

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What are Connotations?

Semantical Term
- The associated meanings we have with certain words, depending on the person reading/hearing the word, + on the context in which the word appears
- Example: ‘red’ connotes danger, love, anger, e.t.c
- Much more subjective than denotation.

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What is Synonymy?

Lexical Term
- Use of words which have the same meaning
- Example: malady + illness

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What is Antonymy?

Use of words which have opposite meanings.

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What are Homophones?

Words which have the same sound but are spelled differently.

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What is Homonymy?

Words which sound the same and are spelled the same but have different meanings.

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What is a Semantic Field?

Semantical Term
- Pattern of words with similar meanings found across a text or texts
- Example: ‘bolt’, ‘trap’, ‘cage’)

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What is Ambiguity?

Words/phrases capable of more than one meaning. Can be caused by use of homophones/homonyms and can be deliberate or by accident.

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What is an Eponym?

Name of a person after whom something is named (Sandwich, Braille)

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What are Proprietary/Proper names?

Name given to a product by one organisation, becomes the commonly used name for similar products (Ipad, Tampax, Hoover)

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What is ‘Neologism’?

Describes creation of a new word or expression, term ‘Coinage’ often used to describe a completely new word.

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What are prefixes and suffixes?

Prefixes- addition of a bound morpheme to the beginning of a root word, e.g. ‘dis’ ‘pre’ ‘ex’ ‘un’
Suffixes- addition of a bound morpheme to ending of a root word, e.g. (radical)ising, (happy)ness

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What is a Conversion?

Word that changes its word class without adding a suffix, e.g. Text (noun and verb)

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What is compounding?

Semantical Term
- Combining of separate words to create a new word (sometimes adding a hyphen to link them)
- Example: teapot, blackboard, laptop.

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What is Clipping?

Shortening words and phrases, e.g. blog, phone, tea instead of cup of tea

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What is Back Formation?

Removal of an imagined affix from an existing word, e.g. babysit from babysitter, edit from editor, burgle from burglar.

What is Blending?

Two words fusing to make a new one, e.g. smog (smoke and fog), brunch (breakfast and dinner)

What are Acronyms and Initialism?

Acronyms- Initial letters of a phrase, but sounded as a word, e.g. LOL, RADAR (Radio Detection and Raging)
Initialism- Initial letters of a phrase, each being pronounced separately, e.g. CD (compact disk)

What are Achaic and Obsolete Words?

Archaic- no longer current or applicable (outdated)
Obsolete- no longer have any use.

What is Amelioration and Pejoration?

Amelioration- word develops a positive meaning.
Pejoration- Word develops a negative meaning

What is a Discourse Marker?

Word/phrase that indicates a change in topic or return to a previous topic.
Example: ‘Next’, ‘Finally’

What are Polysemic Lexis?

Semantical Term
- A word that is capable of having several possible meanings.
- Example: ‘set’ can refer to a ‘set of cutlery’, a ‘tennis set’, what happens to jelly, e.t.c.)

What is Overt and Covert Prestige?

Covert Prestige- less formal language
Overt Prestige- more formal language

Define High + Low Frequency Lexis.

Lexical Term
• High-frequency lexis: words that appear often in everyday speech
• Low-frequency lexis: words that appear more rarely, such as specialist terms from a field, e.g. medicine

Define Etymology

Lexical Term - The history of a word - Including the language it came from, if appropriate, + when it began to be regularly used.

Define French/Latinate Lexis.

Lexical Term - Words derived from French or Latin, or both, are more rarely used - Often seen as aging a higher status and/or being more specialist.

Define Collocation.

Semantical Term - 2 or more words that are often found together in a group or phrase with a distinct meaning - Example: ‘fish and chips’, ‘back to front’

Explain the difference between Lexical + Semantical Fields.

- Lexical field identifies the main subject matter of a text (e.g. food in a recipe, money in an article on economics). - Whereas, a semantic field is a group of words that have similar meanings, which may not be the main subject matter of the text.

Define Antistrophe.

* Same word/phraase is repeated at end of successive clauses, sentences, or phrases. * Used for emphasis, rhythm, or to make an argument more persuasive. * Example: ‘When I was **a child**, I spoke as **a child**, I understood as **a child**, I thought as **a child**.

Define Rhetorical Tropes.

* Figures of speech/stylistic devices that involve a deviation from ordinary/literal meaning of words to achieve a particular effect (e.g. persuasion, emphasis, or vivid imagery). * Often rely on figurative language + help create deeper/more imaginative meanings. * Examples: metaphors, similes, metonymy, irony, e.t.c.

Define Anaphora.

* Same word/phrase is reapeated at beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines. * Often used to create emphasis, rhythm, + emotional impact. * Commonly used in speeches, literature, + poetry to engage audience + reinforce key points. * Example: **It was** the best of times, **it was** the worst of times, **it was** the age of wisdom, **it was** the age of foolishness.

Define Metonymy.

* Replacing the name of something with something closely associated with it. * Example: ‘the crown’ to represent a monarchy

Define Hyperbole.

* Exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect. * Example: ‘I’ve told you a million times’

Define Irony.

* Saying the opposite of what you mean. * Often for humour or emphatic effect. * Example: ‘What a pleasant day’ (on a stormy day)

Define **Euphemisms.**

* Polite/indirect expression used to replace something harsh or unpleasant. * Example: ‘Passed away’ instead of ‘died’.

Define **Dysphemisms**

* Deliberately harsh/offensive term for something. * Example: ‘kicked the bucket’ instead of ‘died’

Define an **Idiom.**

* Phrase with a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning. * Example: ‘It’s raining cats and dogs.’