Terminology Flashcards

1
Q

What does the term diachronic linguistics relate to?

A

The study of changes to language which occur over time

For example, ‘girl’ in the 13th century meant a young person of either gender. By the late 16th century, the word had changed to its current meaning of ‘female’.

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2
Q

What does the term Synchronic linguistics relate to?

A

The study of language at a particular time, usually the present

For example, there are regional differences: in the US, the word for a fizzy drink can be ‘pop’ or ‘soda’, while, in Britain, there are many different names for a bread roll (e.g. ‘bap’, ‘cob’, ‘stottie’, ‘bere bannock’).

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3
Q

What is Graphology?

A

The writing system of language | Visual elements on the page

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4
Q

What is Grammar?

A

The rules for organising meaning

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5
Q

What is Orthography?

A

Features relating to letters and spelling

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6
Q

What is Phonology?

A

Pronunciation and sound patterns that affect understanding

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7
Q

What is Pragmatics?

A

How context affects meaning

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8
Q

What is Morphology?

A

The structure of words with their meaning

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9
Q

What is Lexis?

A

Vocabulary

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10
Q

What is Etymology?

A

The origin and development of words

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11
Q

What is Semantics?

A

Meaning of words

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12
Q

What is Syntax?

A

Order of words in a sentence

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13
Q

What is Derivation?

A

The method by which new words are formed as they are taken from existing words

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14
Q

What is Coinage?

A

The creation of new words. These are often nouns but can become verbs (eg google –> googled)

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15
Q

What is Neologism?

A

When a new word is coined and seems to have come from nothing. Often, this is seen in advertising.

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16
Q

What is an Eponym?

A

A word which takes its name from its inventor

17
Q

What is Telescoping?

A

The process by which words are formed and shortened, (contractions).

18
Q

What are Acronyms?

A

When a word or term is made using the beginning letter of other words.

19
Q

What does Compounding do?

A

Makes new words from joining two complete words

20
Q

What does Blending do?

A

Combines elements of two words to form a new word

21
Q

What is Clipping?

A

The shortening of longer words

22
Q

What is Backformation?

A

A form of clipping where a long word or phrase is shortened and gives a new word in a different form. Nouns to verbs are common

23
Q

What is Coalescence?

A

When sounds are clipped from endings of words, or between words, where the articulation merges. This often happens due to informal speech produced at speed

24
Q

What is Reduplication?

A

A process that replicates the sounds of a word, as well as duplicates sound to make the resultant sound lively and formal

25
What is **Conversion**?
When functions of a word are changed, yet the form of the word remains the same
26
What is **Amelioration**?
The process by which the meaning of a word changes to become more positive.
27
What is **Perjoration**?
The process by which the meaning of a word changes to become more negative.
28
What is **Broadening**?
The process by which a word expands from its original meaning and becomes more general.
29
What is **Narrowing**?
The process by which a word takes on a more restricted meaning.
30
What is **Prescriptivism**?
The idea that language is either right or wrong. There are rules that define how language should be used. Mistakes result when these rules are broken.
31
What is **Descriptivism**?
The idea that language is defined by the people who use it. Descriptivists accept that language change is inevitable.
32
What is a Lingua Franca?
A lingua franca, also known as a bridge language, is a language or dialect systematically used to make communication possible between groups of people who do not share a native language or dialect
33
What does "norm-providing" mean?
The English norms are developed in these countries and spread outwards
34
What does "norm-developing" mean?
Englishes used here are adopting and developing their own norms
35
What does "norm-dependent" mean?
It relies on the standards set by native speakers in the inner circle
36
What does "diatopic" refer to?
Variation in language on a geographical level
37
What does "diastratic" refer to?
Variation in language between social classes
38
What does "diachronic" refer to?
Variation in language over time
39
What is code-switching?
The process of moving between language forms. This can be from one language to another, or between dialects