Key Terms

Question 1

What is context?

Answer 1

The situation in which a text is produced or received…

Question 2

Mode

Answer 2

The medium of communication

E.g writing or speech

Question 3

Context of reception

Answer 3

The situation the text is read in + factors that might influence readers interpretation

Question 4

Context of production

Answer 4

The situation the text is produced + factors that might influence it’s writing

Question 5

Implied reader

Answer 5

The kind of reader the text producer has in mind when writing and who might be expected to follow the authors point of view

Question 6

Implied writer

Answer 6

A constructed image of the writer a reader may have in mind

Question 7

Primary purpose

Answer 7

The main reason the text has been produced

Question 8

Secondary purpose

Answer 8

A secondary and sometimes more subtle reason

Question 9

Idiolect

Answer 9

An individual style of speaking or linguistic fingerprint

Question 10

Sociolect

Answer 10

A defined use of language as a result of membership of a social group

Question 11

Discourse community

Answer 11

A group with shared values and approaches to reading

Question 12

Register

Answer 12

A variety of language appropriate to particular purpose and context

Question 13

Field

Answer 13

The general purpose of an act of communication

Question 14

Tenor

Answer 14

The relationship between the participants in a conversation or between text producer and receiver

Question 15

Dialect

Answer 15

The language variety of a geographical region or social background revealed by a variation in lexical and grammatical terms

Question 16

Accent

Answer 16

The specific way words are pronounced according to geographical region

Question 17

Standard English

Answer 17

A universally excepted dialect of English that carries a degree of prestige

Question 18

Representation

Answer 18

The projection of a certain way of thinking about a particular individual, group or institution through the use of language

Question 19

Specialist register

Answer 19

A set of lexical items and grammatical constructions particular to an institution or occupational group

Question 20

Jargon

Answer 20

Specialist terminology that may exclude others

Question 21

Slang

Answer 21

Colloquial language that is intensive and particular to individuals or groups

Question 22

Denotation

Answer 22

A strict “dictionary” meaning of a lexical item

Question 23

Connotation

Answer 23

An associated symbolic meaning relying on culturally shared conventions

Question 24

Semantical or lexical field

Answer 24

Lexical items that are similar in a range of meaning and properties

Question 25

Synonymy

Answer 25

Words with very similar semantic value

Question 26

Antonymy

Answer 26

Words with opposite semantic value

Question 27

Hyponymy

Answer 27

The terms of the hierarchical structure that exists between lexical items

Question 28

Euphemism

Answer 28

A socially acceptable word or phrase used to avoid talking about something potentially distasteful

Question 29

Dysphemism

Answer 29

A harsh, “to-the-point”, and perhaps taboo term, sometimes used for dark humorous effect