Terminology

Question 1

What does the term diachronic linguistics relate to?

Answer 1

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’.

Question 2

What does the term Synchronic linguistics relate to?

Answer 2

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’).

Question 3

What is Graphology?

Answer 3

The writing system of language | Visual elements on the page

Question 4

What is Grammar?

Answer 4

The rules for organising meaning

Question 5

What is Orthography?

Answer 5

Features relating to letters and spelling

Question 6

What is Phonology?

Answer 6

Pronunciation and sound patterns that affect understanding

Question 7

What is Pragmatics?

Answer 7

How context affects meaning

Question 8

What is Morphology?

Answer 8

The structure of words with their meaning

Question 9

What is Lexis?

Answer 9

Vocabulary

Question 10

What is Etymology?

Answer 10

The origin and development of words

Question 11

What is Semantics?

Answer 11

Meaning of words

Question 12

What is Syntax?

Answer 12

Order of words in a sentence

Question 13

What is Derivation?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What is Coinage?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What is Neologism?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What is an Eponym?

Answer 16

A word which takes its name from its inventor

Question 17

What is Telescoping?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What are Acronyms?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What does Compounding do?

Answer 19

Makes new words from joining two complete words

Question 20

What does Blending do?

Answer 20

Combines elements of two words to form a new word

Question 21

What is Clipping?

Answer 21

The shortening of longer words

Question 22

What is Backformation?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What is Coalescence?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What is Reduplication?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

What is Conversion?

Answer 25

When functions of a word are changed, yet the form of the word remains the same

Question 26

What is Amelioration?

Answer 26

The process by which the meaning of a word changes to become more positive.

Question 27

What is Perjoration?

Answer 27

The process by which the meaning of a word changes to become more negative.

Question 28

What is Broadening?

Answer 28

The process by which a word expands from its original meaning and becomes more general.

Question 29

What is Narrowing?

Answer 29

The process by which a word takes on a more restricted meaning.

Question 30

What is Prescriptivism?

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

What is Descriptivism?

Answer 31

The idea that language is defined by the people who use it. Descriptivists accept that language change is inevitable.

Question 32

What is a Lingua Franca?

Answer 32

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

Question 33

What does “norm-providing” mean?

Answer 33

The English norms are developed in these countries and spread outwards

Question 34

What does “norm-developing” mean?

Answer 34

Englishes used here are adopting and developing their own norms

Question 35

What does “norm-dependent” mean?

Answer 35

It relies on the standards set by native speakers in the inner circle

Question 36

What does “diatopic” refer to?

Answer 36

Variation in language on a geographical level

Question 37

What does “diastratic” refer to?

Answer 37

Variation in language between social classes

Question 38

What does “diachronic” refer to?

Answer 38

Variation in language over time

Question 39

What is code-switching?

Answer 39

The process of moving between language forms. This can be from one language to another, or between dialects