definitions Flashcards
Language functions: conative function
The conative function typically involves directions, questions and commands.
examples:
Could you please pass the salt?
Get out!
Language functions: poetic function
The poetic function focuses on the formation of the message itself, rather than
on the addresser or addressee. It is sometimes referred to as the aesthetic
function because it concerns the beauty or wit of the text’s composition.
Examples:
Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive.- Sir Walter Scott
Language functions: phatic function
Texts that have a phatic function are designed to create and maintain social
connections between the addresser and the addressee. These messages tend
to be somewhat meaningless outside a social context and the focus is
on the way the message is delivered and received.
For example:
when an acquaintance asks how your day has been, or if you’ve had a nice
weekend, an honest answer is rarely expected; usually a polite, general, positive
response is required.
Language functions: metalinguistic function
A text that has a metalinguistic function describes language itself, such as using
the metalanguage ‘nouns’ and ‘vowels’.
examples:
Examples
A potato cake? Is that the same as a potato scallop?
Do you understand what I’m saying?
This sentence is short.
Always capitalise proper nouns.
Language functions: referential function
the referential function is the sharing of
information with an intended audience. This information may or may not be true,
but the language user presents the message as factual and objective, commonly using declarative sentences (sentences that function as a statement rather than as a question or command).
Examples:
The sky is not blue.
Summer is when the weather is very hot.
His heart is broken
Language functions: emotive function
The emotive function allows users to express emotions and desires. It’s
sometimes referred to as the expressive function. This function usually relates to
the addresser and their presentation of emotion - real or not.
Examples:
Argh, you stepped on my toe!
That was a fantastic movie.
register
Register describes the way in which an addresser intentionally alters their
language to better suit the situation . It can involve all features of language and levels of formality
examples:
frozen, formal, consultative, casual, and intimate.
Adverbial
Gives additional information about place, time, etc…
Falls outside of the predicate
Can be removed completely from a sentence without affecting the syntactic integrity
Noun
Usually begins with a determiner (this, the, that, a, my)
The beautiful sky (subject noun phrase; head word ‘sky’) rose above the glimmering sea of green (object noun phrase; head word ‘sea).
Authorial intent
why an author chooses to write and will communicate their message.
pronoun
A pronoun is a word that can replace a noun in a sentence. I love my dog because he is a good boy, the word he is a pronoun that replaces the noun dog.
verb
A verb is a word that indicates a physical action (e.g., “drive”), a mental action (e.g., “think”), or a state of being (e.g., “exist”).
auxiliary (helping) verbs
Verbs that support (help) main verbs. Often enable tense.
- Primary auxiliary verbs:Had/has, is/was, etc.
- Modal verbs:
Indicate likelihood of verb happening.
preposition
A preposition is a word or group of words used before a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show direction, time, place, location, spatial relationships, or to introduce an object.
adverb
Manner
Place
Time
Frequency
determiners
a word placed before a noun to provide info. such as quantity ownership specificity
Affixes
Prefixes
Go before the root
Eg: Disinterested
Suffixes
Go after the root
Eg: Walking
Infixes
Inserted inside the root(middle)
Not found in English (except for non-Standard words)
Often expletives or intensifiers in English.
SEMANTIC PROPERTIES
Generally words with similar meanings have the same properties, however, not ALL of these properties will be the same – thus, the existence of synonyms.
–E.g. ‘punch’ has +hit, +closed fist
–E.g. ‘slap’ has +hit, +open fist
Denotation
Denotation refers to the general meaning of a word. For example, the denotation of mother is a female parent.
Connotation
Connotation refers to the social meaning or emotional associations triggered by a word
For example, rats:
denotation → small rodent
connotation → sneaky person
elevation
When a lexeme takes on a more positive meaning than it once had. This occurs due to it acquiring positive connotations, or because its negative connotations subside.
For example, in the 16th Century, sophisticated meant ‘not natural, altered by a foreign substance’, but in Modern English, it is now used to describe someone who is refined through education and experience.
DETERIORATION
When a lexeme takes on a more negative meaning. This happens more frequently than elevation. When this happens the unpleasant meaning kills the positive one.
For example, in the 13th Century, a villain was a peasant or someone who inhabits farms. In Modern English, it refers to a wicked person or scoundrel.
shift
When a lexeme takes on a meaning and loses its original one.
slang
how to know if a text is formal
Whether you use formal or informal style in writing will depend on the assignment itself, its subject, purpose, and audience. Formal language is characterized by the use of standard English, more complex sentence structures, infrequent use of personal pronouns, and lack of colloquial or slang terms.
