Subsystem Patterning (Chap1) Flashcards
What are the five subsystems of language patterning?
- Phonological
- Morphological
- Syntactic
- Semantic
- Lexical
These subsystems categorize the language patterns in written and spoken texts.
Define phonetics.
The study of how we make speech sounds and how we organize these sounds.
Phonetics focuses on the physical properties of speech sounds.
What is phonology?
The study of the patterns that speech sounds form within a language.
Phonology includes concepts like the IPA and prosodic features.
What is phonological patterning used for?
To express creativity and for fun in spoken or written language.
Authors may create effects through various phonological techniques.
What is alliteration?
The repetition of the same initial consonant sound in closely placed words.
Example: ‘pretty practical pants’
Define assonance.
The repetition of vowel sounds within closely placed words.
Example: ‘fleet of jeeps’
What is consonance?
The repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity.
Example: ‘bees in the trees buzzed with ease.’
Define onomatopoeia.
Words that phonetically imitate or resemble the sound they describe.
Example: ‘squawked’ and ‘rustle’.
What is morphology?
The study of words and their parts, including morphemes.
Morphemes are the smallest units of meaning in a word.
List some morphological patterns.
- Affixation
- Abbreviation
- Shortening
- Compounding
- Blending
- Backformation
- Conversion of word class
- Initialism
- Acronym
- Contraction
These processes involve changing or forming words.
What does lexicology study?
The form, meaning, and behavior of words.
Includes word formation processes like neologism and borrowings.
Define syntax.
The study of how words are ordered in structures that communicate meaning.
This includes phrases, clauses, word order, and sentences.
What is syntactic patterning?
The use of specific structures to create rhythm and memorability in text.
It enhances meaning and understanding for readers.
What is parallelism?
The repetition of grammatical structures two or more times in succession.
Example: ‘Work hard, stay focused.’
Define antithesis.
The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in parallel structures.
Example: ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.’
What does listing refer to in syntax?
Presenting a series of related ideas or elements in similar grammatical form.
Example: ‘I need to buy pies, cakes, hot dogs and sausage rolls.’
What is discourse?
Written and spoken texts that are longer than a sentence.
Discourse encompasses various forms of communication.
Define pragmatics.
The study of how language is used within a given context.
It explores how context contributes to meaning.
What is lexical choice?
The role of content words in creating texts.
Includes concepts like synonymy and antonymy.
Define synonymy.
Using pairs or groups of words that are very similar in meaning.
Example: ‘choice, selection, preference’.
What is antonymy?
The relationship of words that are opposite in meaning.
Example: ‘hot and cold’.
What are hyponymy and hypernymy?
- Hyponymy: A word belonging to a larger category
- Hypernymy: The larger category itself
Example: ‘Cat’ is a hyponym of ‘animal’.
What does ellipsis refer to?
The omission of words or phrases.
Example: ‘Lauren first went to school then Lauren went home right after.’
What is repetition in discourse?
The same word repeated throughout a text to reiterate an idea.
It emphasizes key points.
Define substitution in discourse.
Using alternative words, phrases, or clauses in place of the original.
Example: ‘The former premier shook his hand.’
What is collocation?
Words that typically appear next to each other in texts.
Example: ‘strong or weak tea’.
What are adverbials?
Words, phrases, or clauses that provide information related to time, place, or manner.
Example: ‘Firstly, we will do a warm-up game.’
What are conjunctions?
Words that join phrases and clauses.
Example: ‘I like cats but Jamie likes dogs.’
What is front focus?
When new or important information is placed at the beginning of a sentence.
Example: ‘Potato cakes I like.’
Define clefting.
Modification of syntax to emphasize a particular element.
Example: ‘It is potato cakes that I like.’
What is end focus?
When new or important information is placed at the end of a sentence.
Example: ‘The time to paint the house has come.’
What are openings in spoken discourse?
The initial phase where speakers establish contact and introduce the topic.
Example: ‘Hi, I am Phoebe.’
Define closings in discourse.
The final phase where participants wrap up and exchange remarks.
Example: ‘Have a safe journey!’
What are adjacency pairs?
Sequentially linked utterances in a conversation.
Example: ‘Hey, how ya going? Yo! Good, good!’
What are minimal responses?
Brief replies in a conversation.
Example: ‘Right.’ or ‘I see.’
Define discourse particles.
Linguistic elements that organize communication but do not carry semantic meaning.
Example: ‘Well, I think…’
What are non-fluency features?
Aspects of discourse that reduce cohesion.
Examples include pauses and filled pauses.
Define pauses in discourse.
Breaks in speech that disrupt fluency.
Example: ‘I went. to. The principal’s office.’
What are filled pauses?
Voiced hesitations during speech.
Example: ‘Uh, I spent, um, all of my money?’
What is a false start in speech?
An initial attempt at speech that is corrected or modified.
Example: ‘So, I ju, I mean I only left for ten, I mean twenty minutes.’
What is a repair in discourse?
A correction made during speech.
Example: ‘I have, I mean had, enough money.’
What is semantics?
The study of understanding and meaning-making in language.
It considers both logical and lexical meanings.
Define semantic patterning.
The organization of meanings within a text to aid cohesion and coherence.
It helps capture and maintain audience attention.
What is irony in semantics?
Expressing something contrary to what is expected, often for humorous effect.
Example: ‘Oh, great. Another SAC.’
What is a metaphor?
A figure of speech that describes one thing in terms of another.
Example: ‘Love is a battlefield.’
Define oxymoron.
A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms.
Example: ‘Virtual reality.’
What is a simile?
A comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as’.
Example: ‘She slept like a baby.’
What is hyperbole?
Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally.
Example: ‘I’ve told you a thousand times.’
Define personification.
Attributing human qualities to inanimate objects or concepts.
Example: ‘The old house groaned under the weight of its history.’
What is animation in semantics?
Bringing inanimate objects or fictional characters to life.
Example: ‘The words danced off the page.’
What is lexical ambiguity?
The existence of two or more possible meanings within a single word.
Example: ‘Parking fine.’
What are puns?
A form of lexical ambiguity used for humor or rhetorical effect.
Example: ‘Riding my bike every day made me too tired.’
What is a semantic domain?
Grouping of words based on shared or related meanings.
Example: ‘Cupcake, knead, dough, icing.’
What is an idiom?
Commonly used phrases with non-literal meanings.
Example: ‘Her blood is worth bottling.’
Define denotation.
The literal meaning of a word.
Example: ‘Home – a place that someone lives in.’
What is connotation?
The set of associations and values attributed to a word.
Example: ‘Home – a place of safety, warmth, and comfort.’
What is a euphemism?
Words or phrases used in place of blunt or taboo terms.
Example: ‘pass away’ instead of die.
Define dysphemism.
A term used to magnify a blunt or taboo word or phrase.
Example: ‘worm food’ instead of ‘dead’.
