Terminology Flashcards
What does the term diachronic linguistics relate to?
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’.
What does the term Synchronic linguistics relate to?
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’).
What is Graphology?
The writing system of language | Visual elements on the page
What is Grammar?
The rules for organising meaning
What is Orthography?
Features relating to letters and spelling
What is Phonology?
Pronunciation and sound patterns that affect understanding
What is Pragmatics?
How context affects meaning
What is Morphology?
The structure of words with their meaning
What is Lexis?
Vocabulary
What is Etymology?
The origin and development of words
What is Semantics?
Meaning of words
What is Syntax?
Order of words in a sentence
What is Derivation?
The method by which new words are formed as they are taken from existing words
What is Coinage?
The creation of new words. These are often nouns but can become verbs (eg google –> googled)
What is Neologism?
When a new word is coined and seems to have come from nothing. Often, this is seen in advertising.
What is an Eponym?
A word which takes its name from its inventor
What is Telescoping?
The process by which words are formed and shortened, (contractions).
What are Acronyms?
When a word or term is made using the beginning letter of other words.
What does Compounding do?
Makes new words from joining two complete words
What does Blending do?
Combines elements of two words to form a new word
What is Clipping?
The shortening of longer words
What is Backformation?
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
What is Coalescence?
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
What is Reduplication?
A process that replicates the sounds of a word, as well as duplicates sound to make the resultant sound lively and formal
What is Conversion?
When functions of a word are changed, yet the form of the word remains the same
What is Amelioration?
The process by which the meaning of a word changes to become more positive.
What is Perjoration?
The process by which the meaning of a word changes to become more negative.
What is Broadening?
The process by which a word expands from its original meaning and becomes more general.
What is Narrowing?
The process by which a word takes on a more restricted meaning.
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.
What is Descriptivism?
The idea that language is defined by the people who use it. Descriptivists accept that language change is inevitable.
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
What does “norm-providing” mean?
The English norms are developed in these countries and spread outwards
What does “norm-developing” mean?
Englishes used here are adopting and developing their own norms
What does “norm-dependent” mean?
It relies on the standards set by native speakers in the inner circle
What does “diatopic” refer to?
Variation in language on a geographical level
What does “diastratic” refer to?
Variation in language between social classes
What does “diachronic” refer to?
Variation in language over time
What is code-switching?
The process of moving between language forms. This can be from one language to another, or between dialects
