Semantic Features Flashcards
Figurative langage
umbrella term that describes language that is different from its original meaning to create a more vivid or expressive effect
irony
stating one thing but meaning another, eg “i LOVE mathematical methods”
metaphor
Direct comparison to help clarify meaning, eg “English Language is a walk in the park”
oxymoron
Contradictory words or phrases used together for contrasting effect. eg, “delicious poison”
simile
highlighting similarities using like or as. eg “as fast as lightning”
hyperbole
a gross exaggeration, not meant to be taken literally. eg “you’re so loud, I’m going deaf”
personification
gives agency, non-human qualities and and actions to non-human entities. eg, “the trees whispered in the wind”
animation
giving inanimate characters movement and action
pun
play on words, eg “byte-sized computer news”
lexical ambiguity
two or more possible meanings of a word, gives layers of meaning. eg, “she visits the bank regularly” (financial bank, river bank?)
synonomy
using words with very similar meanings. eg, “type, kind or variant”
antonymy
using words with opposite in meaning. eg, “He’s always been hot and cold with me”
hyponymy
subtype, getting smaller, eg “scarlet”, a type of “red”
hypernymy
larger category, getting larger. eg “colour”, the category containing the colour “red”
idiom
commonly used phrases with non-literal meanings. eg, “he is the light of my life”
