Linguistic Terms

Question 1

Neologism

Answer 1

The deliberate creation of a new word

Question 2

Borrowing

Answer 2

Borrowing a word/concept from another language. Usually anglicised.

Question 3

Compounding

Answer 3

Combining two whole words together

Question 4

Clipping

Answer 4

Shortened words that become the norm

Question 5

Blending/portmanteau

Answer 5

Blending words together to create a new one

Question 6

Acronym

Answer 6

First letter taken from the words to form a new word

Question 7

Initialism

Answer 7

The first letters of the word are taken. Each letter is pronounced.

Question 8

Conversion/functional shift

Answer 8

Words shifting from one word class to another

Question 9

Eponym

Answer 9

Names of a person/company used to define particular objects

Question 10

Amelioration

Answer 10

The word’s meaning changes to be more positive

Question 11

Archaism

Answer 11

A word or expression that is no longer in use

Question 12

Collocation

Answer 12

Words that predictably go together

Fish and chips, husband and wife

Question 13

Contraction

Answer 13

Words are combined to create a single shortened word

Question 14

Descriptivism

Answer 14

Studying language without the idea of ‘incorrect’ or ‘correct’

Question 15

Diminutive suffices

Answer 15

Suffixes placed on the end of words to make them seem small/feminine
(Ess/ette)

Question 16

Discourse

Answer 16

Any passage of written/spoken language

Question 17

Dysphemism

Answer 17

Using a harsh or impolite expression instead of a mild one

Question 18

Fillers

Answer 18

Words with little meaning. Usually gives speaker more time to think
(You know, sort of)

Question 19

Hedging

Answer 19

Uncertaintly in conversation

Question 20

Hypernym

Answer 20

A general word linked to more specific ones

Furniture

Question 21

Hyponym

Answer 21

All the words that can be produced from a hypernym

Desk, chair, sofa, table

Question 22

Idiom

Answer 22

Well known expression or phrase

Question 23

Cliché

Answer 23

Over used idiom

Question 24

Intonation

Answer 24

The rise and fall of pitch in speech

Question 25

Lexical asymmetry

Answer 25

Pairs of words that should be equal but socially are not

Sir/madam

Question 26

Malapropisms

Answer 26

Incorrect use of a word by substituting in a similar sounding word with a different meaning
(Eye Sea)

Question 27

Marked terms

Answer 27

Terms that have gender highlighted

Question 28

Unmarked terms

Answer 28

Presumes gender, is usually the general term.

Question 29

Minimal response

Answer 29

Short reply

Question 30

Modifiers

Answer 30

A word that affects the meaning of a more important word

Question 31

Paralinguistics

Answer 31

Features of gestures and facial expression in speech

Question 32

Phatic talk

Answer 32

Small talk

Question 33

Phonemes

Answer 33

Basic sound units of language

Question 34

Prosodic features

Answer 34

Ways to use the voice to add meaning

Tone/stressing/speed/pitch

Question 35

Register

Answer 35

Level of formality in word choice

Question 36

Syntax

Answer 36

Sentence structure/word order

Question 37

Tag question

Answer 37

A question added to a statement

Question 38

False start

Answer 38

Starting a sentence then starting again

Question 39

Disjointed constructions

Answer 39

Adding detail that would be in the middle of sentence after it has been said
‘He knows about computers - how to fix them’

Question 40

Incomplete structures

Answer 40

Sentences that are incomplete but still make sense given context
(‘Beckham to Owen’ meaning Beckham has passed the ball to Owen)

Question 41

Non fluency features

Answer 41

Fillers
Filled pauses
Repetitions
False starts

Question 42

Filled pauses

Answer 42

Noises that fill pauses

Umm, err