Terms II

Question 1

Cognates

Answer 1

Words in different languages that have a common origin and similar meanings (e.g., mother in English and madre in Spanish).

Question 2

Comparative Reconstruction

Answer 2

A method in historical linguistics to deduce the features of an ancestral language by comparing related languages.

Question 3

Diachronic Variation

Answer 3

Changes in language over time, such as shifts in vocabulary, grammar, or pronunciation.

Question 4

Metathesis

Answer 4

The reordering of sounds within a word, such as ask becoming aks.

Question 5

Middle and Old English

Answer 5

Middle English: The stage of the English language spoken roughly between 1150 and 1500, influenced by Norman French.

Old English: The earliest form of the English language, spoken from about 450 to 1150, heavily influenced by Germanic languages.

Question 6

Philology

Answer 6

The study of historical language development, including texts, grammar, and literary traditions.

Question 7

Prothesis

Answer 7

The addition of a sound to the beginning of a word, common in language evolution (e.g., Latin schola becoming Spanish escuela).

Question 8

Accent

Answer 8

The distinctive way of pronouncing a language, often associated with a particular region or group.

Question 9

Creole

Answer 9

A fully developed language that evolves from a pidgin when it becomes the native language of a community.

Question 10

Dialect

Answer 10

A regional or social variety of a language with distinct vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

Question 11

Dialectology

Answer 11

The study of dialects, including their geographic and social variations

Question 12

Diglossia

Answer 12

A situation where two language varieties are used in the same community for different purposes, such as formal and informal settings.

Question 13

Isogloss

Answer 13

A boundary line on a map separating areas with different linguistic features.

Question 14

Language Planning

Answer 14

Efforts by governments or organisations to influence the use, development, or standardisation of a language.

Question 15

Pidgin

Answer 15

A simplified language that develops for communication between speakers of different native languages.

Question 16

Regional Bilingualism

Answer 16

A situation where people in a specific area regularly use two languages.

Question 17

Standard Language

Answer 17

A standardised variety of a language that is widely accepted for official and formal use.

Question 18

African American English (AAE)

Answer 18

A variety of English commonly spoken by many African Americans, with distinct grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation features.

Question 19

Jargon

Answer 19

Specialised vocabulary used by a particular group or profession (e.g., medical or legal jargon).

Question 20

Postvocalic /r/

Answer 20

The pronunciation (or omission) of /r/ after a vowel, such as in words like car or park. Its presence or absence often signals regional or social variation.

Question 21

Prestige

Answer 21

The social value attached to certain languages, dialects, or accents, often influencing perceptions of status and respect.

Question 22

Register

Answer 22

A style or level of language use appropriate for a specific context, such as formal, informal, or technical.

Question 23

Slang

Answer 23

Informal and often playful or trendy words and expressions, frequently associated with youth culture.

Question 24

Social Markers

Answer 24

Linguistic features that signal a speaker’s social identity, such as class, ethnicity, or region.

Question 25

Sociolinguistics

Answer 25

The study of how language varies and functions within social contexts.

Question 26

Speech Accommodation

Answer 26

Adjusting speech style to match or differ from the listener, such as convergence (aligning) or divergence (distancing).

Question 27

Taboo Terms

Answer 27

Words or expressions considered socially offensive or inappropriate, often related to sex, religion, or bodily functions.

Question 28

Address Terms

Answer 28

Words used to address others, reflecting social relationships or respect, such as sir, Ms., or dude.

Question 29

Classifiers

Answer 29

Words or morphemes used in some languages to categorise nouns based on shared characteristics (e.g., shape or size).

Question 30

Cognitive Categories

Answer 30

Conceptual groupings in the mind that influence how people perceive and describe the world.

Question 31

Gender

Answer 31

Socially constructed roles and characteristics associated with being male, female, or nonbinary, often reflected in language use.

Question 32

Gender Neutral

Answer 32

Language or terms that avoid specifying gender, promoting inclusivity (e.g., firefighter instead of fireman).

Question 33

Kinship Terms

Answer 33

Words that denote family relationships, such as mother, uncle, or cousin.

Question 34

Linguistic Relativity

Answer 34

The idea that language influences thought and perception, though not necessarily determining them.

Question 35

Non-Lexicalised Categories

Answer 35

Concepts or ideas that a language does not explicitly encode in a single word (e.g., certain colour distinctions).

Question 36

Sapir–Whorf Hypothesis

Answer 36

The theory that the structure of a language affects its speakers’ worldview and cognition.

Question 37

Social Categories

Answer 37

Groups in society defined by shared characteristics, such as age, gender, or socioeconomic status, which can influence language use.