Terminology Flashcards
Euphemism
A word that replaces a term seen by society as taboo or unpleasant
Symbolism
A device in which a word or phrase represents something else
Conceit
A deliberately elaborate metaphor
Phonology
The study of sound
Accent
A set of distinctive pronunciations that mark regional or social identity
Elision
The omission of sounds in connected speech
Alliteration
The repetition of the same sound in the initial position in a sequence of words
Fricatives
Sounds such as F or V
Plosives
Sounds such as P, B or T
Sibilants
Sounds such as S or Z
Aspirants
Sounds such as H
Bilabials
Sounds such as M or B
Nasals
Letters such as M or N
Assonance
A repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds
Onomatopoeia
The term used to denote words that imitate sounds
IPA
The International Phonetic Alphabet used to clarify sounds of language
Discourse
The study of spoken language
Prosodic features
The use of pitch, volume, pace and rhythm o draw attention to the key elements of spoken language
Paralinguistics
Non-verbal communication using gestures, posture and facial expressions
Deictic
Terms used to denote words that rely on the context to be understood - eg, pass me that, there.
Fillers
Words when used when hesitating in speech, um, er
Common/concrete noun
A name for everyday objects
Proper noun
A name of a distinctive person, place or other unique reference
Collective noun
A name that refers to a group of people, animals or things
Abstract noun
A name to describe things that have no physical qualities
Verbs
Words that express States, actions or processes
Dynamic verbs
A verb that expresses an action rather than a state
Stative verbs
Verbs that express States of being or processes
Auxiliary/modal verbs
A verb that precedes another verb eg- I can go
Adjective
A word that modified a noun or pronoun
Adverb
A word that modifies verbs, adverbs, adjectives, conjunctions and prepositions
Pronoun
A word that replaces a noun
Co-ordinating conjunction
A word that joins elements of equal rank (and, or, but)
Subordinating conjunction
A conjunction used to introduce a subordinate clause (because, while, until)
Preposition
A word that shows relationships between nouns or pronouns EG - On
Definite article
‘The’
Indefinite article
‘A’
Lexical set
A group of words joined by similarities
Connotations
The associations attached to a word in addition to its dictionary definition
Allusion
To refer to something indirectly or metaphorically
Pathetic Fallacy
When the environment mirrors emotions
Personification
A device in which the non-human is give personal and human qualities - e.g. - the trees danced in the wind.
Metaphor
A description which does not compare one thing with another but actually becomes the other - e.g. - the trees danced in the wind.
Simile
A device which directly compares two things using like or as
Imagery
A descriptive or metaphorical use of language to create a vivid picture
Compound adjective
An adjective made up of two words joined by a hyphen
Superlatives
A word that emphasises another word - best, worst
Comment Clause
A commonly occurring phrase in speech - e.g. you know
Dialogue
Language interaction with two or more participants
Intonation
The quality or tone of the voice in speech
Received Pronunciation (RP)
An English accent which has a high social status and is not connected to a specific region
Repair
The correction of a mistake or misunderstanding in a conversation
Tag question
An interrogative structure attached to the end of a sentence which expects a rely e.g. isn’t it
Transcription
A written record of spoken language, which can use symbols and markings to illustrate the distinctive nature of speech
Turn-taking
The organisation of speakers’ contributions to a conversation
Utterance
A stretch of spoken language used instead of ‘sentence’ when discussing spoken language
Vocatives
The words used to name or refer to people when talking to them
Hyperbole
Exaggeration used to heighten feeling and intensity
Litotes
A deliberate understatement
Non-standard lexis
Any variety that does not conform to the standard form as used by society
Archaisms
A word or phrase no longer in current use
Orthography
A study of spelling and the ways letters are used in language
Double negative
A structure in which more than one negative is used
Pentameter
A unit of poetic meter containing five feet (pairs) 10 syllables (beats)
Mode of address
The point of view in the text i.e first, second or third person
Syntax
The study of the relationship between words in sentences
Sentence mood
The mood of the sentence (often clarified by punctuation)
Imperative mood
A mood that expresses a command
Exclamatory mood
A mood that expresses strong emotions
Declarative mood
A mood used to express a statement
Interrogative mood
A mood expressing a question
Phrase
A group of words that has no finite verb (except for a verb phrase) e.g. noun phrase ‘the green tree’
Clause
A group of words usually with a finite verb which is structurally larger than a phrase
Independent main clause
The group of word which carries the core meaning of the sentence
Dependent or subordinate clause
A group of words which add extra information to the independent main clause
Simple sentences
An independent main clause
Compound sentence
A sentence made up of at least two main clauses joined together by a co-ordinating conjunction
Complex sentence
A sentence made up of one main and one or more subordinate or dependent clauses
Parallelism
The patterning of pairs of sounds, words or structure to create a sense of balance
Foregrounding
A change in the structure of the sentence to place emphasis on an opening sentence element
End-focus
A change in structure of the sentence to place emphasis on a closing sentence element
Syndetic listing
, , , and
Asyndetic listing
, , ,
Juxtaposition
To place two or more things side by side
Oxymoron
The use of apparently contradictory words in a phrase
Tripling
Listing of three items
Repetition
Saying the same thing more than once
Active voice
A grammatical structure in which the subject is the actor of the sentence, e.g. the dog eats the bone
Passive voice
A grammatical structure in which the subject the subject and the object is the actor of the sentence, e.g. the bone was eaten by the dog
Ellipsis
The omission of part of a sentence
Syntax inversion
The deliberate alteration of the structure of words in a sentence
lexis
The term used to describe the vocabulary of a language
Content
What the text is about
Context
Things outside the text which may shape its meaning, e.g. when it was written and who wrote it
Attitudes
The opinions expressed in the text
Purpose
The reason the text has been produced, e.g. to entertain, inform, persuade etc
Tone
The style or voice the text is written in, e.g. excites, emotional
Themes
The reoccurring ideas and images in the text
Form
The structure and shape of the text
Verse type
The type of poem, sonnet etc
Stanza
The division of lines in a poem, also called a verse
Rondo
A poem with a circular structure that begins and ends similarly
Petrarchen or Italian sonnet
A poem of 14 lines, divided into an octet and a sestet, written in iambic pentameter, rhyme scheme = ABBAABBBA CDECDE (sestet may vary)
Shakespearean or English sonnet
A poem of 14 lines, divided into three quatrains and a couplet, written in iambic pentameter, rhyming ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
Volta
The turning point of a sonnet
Couplet
A two line verse (often rhyming)
Quatrain
A four-line verse
Sestet
A six-line verse
Octet
An eight-line verse
Syllable
The beats or rhythm in a line of verse
Alternate rhyme
Lines of poetry where the rhymes on every other line (ABAB)
Internal rhyme
Where the rhyming sound occurs within a line of verse
Eye rhyme
Where the rhyme looks like it should rhyme but the sound is not exactly the same
Enjambment
Run-on lines
Caesura
A mid-line pause
Rhythm
The pattern of stresses and syllables within poetry
Stress
The exaggerated phoneme in any particular word
Iambic
A unit of poetic meter containing one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable
Trochee
A unit of poetic meter containing one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable
Spondee
A unit of poetic meter containing two stressed syllables
Dactyl
A unit of poetic meter containing one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllable
Anapest
A unit of poetic meter containing two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable
Trimeter
A unit of poetic meter containing three feet (6 syllables in total)
Tetrameter
A unit of poetic meter containing four feet (8 syllables in total)
Allegory
A work with another meaning below the surface one
Ballad
A traditional poem which usually tells a story in short stanzas with simple and direct language
Blank verse/unrhymed iambic pentameter
A line with ten syllables and five stresses
Elegy
An expression of bereavement
Epic
A long work that concerns a hero acting out a country’s history
Free verse
A modern form of poetry where there are no rigid rules governing rhyme and rhythm
Leonine rhyme
An internal line within a line of poetry - e.g. With throats unslaked, with black lips baked
Lyric
A short poem, often intended to be sung which expresses moods and emotions
Narrative poem
A poem that tells a story
Ode
An address to one subject that adopts an elevated manner
Pastoral
A rural poem with the poem often writing as a shepherd or countryman and extolling the ideal world of the countryside
