Semantics Flashcards
Connotation
The associations that a word has in addition to its dictionary meaning.
Ambiguous
A term used to describe a word, phrase or sentence with more than one meaning.
Hyperbole
Exaggerating used to heighten feeling and intensity.
Oxymoron
The use of apparently contradictory words in a phrase (delicious poison).
Pun
Word play which uses different meaning of a word or two words with a similar forms and different meaning for comic effect.
Metaphor
A descriptive use of language in which one thing described as if it were something else ( a sea of troubles).
Simile
A devise which makes a direct comparison between two things, using ‘like’ or ‘as’.
Idiom
An expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the meaning of its individual words. An everyday expression that is metaphorical in meaning. E.g. To ‘put your foot on it’.
Neologism
The creation of a new word from existing lexical items, also called coinage.
Slang
Distinctive words and phrases associated with informal speech. It tends to be short lived and used within a clearly defined social group.
Taboo language
Words that are avoided because they are considered offensive, embarrassing, obscene or offensive.
Collocation
Two or more words that frequently occur together as part of a set phrase.
An unusual collocation
Words that are not normally found together as part of a phrase.
Field specific lexis
Vocabulary associated with a specific topic or field.
Semantic field
Vocabulary organised into area or fields, within which words integrate. An area of meaning such as medicine-GP, surgeon, nurse etc.
