Spoken Language Terminology - Lexis

Question 1

What is Hedging?

Answer 1

Hedging is a strategy used to avoid directness or to minimise a potentially face-threatening act. Often use modal forms. E.g. ‘kind of’, ‘could’.

Question 2

What are Fixed Expressions?

Answer 2

Fixed Expressions are conventional and routine expressions used in colloquial communication and are sometimes metaphorical. E.g. ‘at the end of the day’.

Question 3

What are Vague Expressions?

Answer 3

Vague Expressions are similar to hedging and they are deliberately non - committal expressions. E.g. ‘anything’, ‘thing’, ‘it’s kind of’.

Question 4

What is Deixis?

Answer 4

Deixis are words that add specific context (often time or place) and are needed for the whole utterance to make sense. E.g. ‘Today’.

Question 5

What is Dialect?

Answer 5

Dialect is the distinctive vocabulary (or grammar) associated with a group. E.g. ‘trash’.

Question 6

What is Elision?

Answer 6

Elision is the omission or slurring (eliding) of one or more sounds or syllables. E.g. ‘gonna’.

Question 7

What are self-related Comments?

Answer 7

Self-related Comments focus on the speaker. E.g. ‘I love it’.

Question 8

What are Other-related Comments?

Answer 8

Other-related Comments focus on the listener. E.g. ‘You’re right’.

Question 9

What are Idioms?

Answer 9

Idioms are expressions where the meaning of the whole conveys more than the meaning of the parts. E.g. ‘put your foot in it’, ‘better late than never’.

Question 10

What are Formulaic Utterances?

Answer 10

Formulaic Utterances are multi-word utterances that are stored and retrieved from memory (frequent in commentaries etc).