Key Terms

Question 1

Monophtong

Answer 1

Single vowel sound
- no change in the mouth

Question 2

Diphthong

Answer 2

Dual vowel sound
- vowel sound changes

Question 3

Place of articulation

Answer 3

Where the sound is created

Question 4

Manner of articulation

Answer 4

Way in which a sound is produced and hits the eardrum

Question 5

Accdentism

Answer 5

The idea that upbringing / social class / education can be reflected in accents

Question 6

Linguistic prestige

Answer 6

The degree of esteem and social value attached to language varieties

Question 7

Covert Prestige

Answer 7

The use of non-standard English to suit situational needs
- Expresses community and group identity
- Situations which regard non-standard language or dialect of high linguistic prestige

Question 8

Overt prestige

Answer 8

The use of standard English in formal situations
- Expresses power and status

Question 9

Sociolect

Answer 9

A variety of language which can be associated with a particular social group
- Based on age / occupation / gender / socio-economic status (class)

Question 10

Idiolect

Answer 10

Language of a single individual
- Individual linguistic characteristics (grammar / lexical choices)

Question 11

Received Pronunciation

Answer 11

Every letter is pronounced to the highest degree
- Devoid of slang / abbreviations
- Standard English
- Prescriptivist

Question 12

Sociolinguistics

Answer 12

The study of the relationship between social factors and language

Question 13

Social Networks (English)

Answer 13

A community of language users
- Sometimes known as a speech community
- Groups of language users who interact with one another

Question 14

Prosodic Features

Answer 14

Spoken language features

Question 15

Interjection

Answer 15

An abrupt remark
E.g. Oh my God! / Shit!

Question 16

Language Contact

Answer 16

The combination of languages resulting in dialect
- How dialect is established

Question 17

Repeated Interruptions (Indicates…?)

Answer 17

Personally affected by something
- Trying to get their point across

Question 18

Conversational Repair

Answer 18

Hypercorrection of a person’s own contribution in a conversation
- Can show dishonesty

Question 19

Monologue / Dialogue

Answer 19

M: Language from an individual speaker
D: Multiple people engaging in a conversation
- Pre-planned (not spontaneous)
- Not ‘raw’ discourse
- E.g. literature / stories

Question 20

Topic Shift

Answer 20

The change of topic / subject

Question 21

Phonological Sequencing

Answer 21

Alliteration synonym; repetition of beginning consonant sounds (consonants only)

Question 22

Modal Obligation Auxillaries

Answer 22

When an instruction is implied
- E.g. you must complete your homework

Question 23

Topic Loop

Answer 23

When a topic is changed but returns to the initial topic later

Question 24

Symmetrical Exchange

Answer 24

When two speakers have the same level of power in a conversation

Question 25

Asymmetrical Exchange

Answer 25

When two speakers have different levels of power

Question 26

Topic Manager

Answer 26

A speaker who organises / handles the topics in a conversation

Question 27

Mitigation

Answer 27

Using language to reduce the seriousness of what is being said

Question 28

Conditional Sentences

Answer 28

The suggestion that a condition will be incurred if an action is done - E.g. if you don't respond soon, further action will be taken

Question 29

Embedded Assumptions

Answer 29

When a speaker makes an assumption based on paralinguistic cues - E.g. assuming the listener is really interested in what the speaker has to say

Question 30

Prevarication

Answer 30

Not answering direct questions

Question 31

Tautology

Answer 31

Saying the same thing twice but using two different words to do so - E.g. it's 7am in the morning

Question 32

Synthetic Personification

Answer 32

Describes how powerful institutions address the mass as individuals to create a feeling of friendliness and build rapport - Coined by Fairclough

Question 33

Utterances

Answer 33

Spoken Sentences

Question 34

Paralinguistic Features

Answer 34

Anything that goes beyond language

Question 35

Marking

Answer 35

When there is a need to distinguish language which holds preconceptions - Nurse -> Male Nurse

Question 36

Clipping

Answer 36

When a part of a word is clipped or removed completely to aid informality - bro = brother

Question 37

Abbreviations

Answer 37

The shortening of a word - Dr = Doctor

Question 38

Backchannelling

Answer 38

Showing engagement in conversation - Nodding / eye contact / mhm / yeah - TOO MUCH = Sarcasm - TOO LITTLE = Sense of uneasiness

Question 39

Hypercorrection

Answer 39

When a person quickly corrects themselves after making a mistake in spoken language

Question 40

Completion Point

Answer 40

In a conversation, the end of a turn (usually marked by the pause at the end of an utterance)

Question 41

Filled Pause

Answer 41

A break in the flow of speech using sounds such as 'er' and 'em'

Question 42

Adjacency Pairs

Answer 42

When a conversation follows a question / answer format

Question 43

Implicature

Answer 43

When something is implied but the true meaning is different - Actual meaning of language - Sarcasm = often extended implicature

Question 44

Verbal Hygiene

Answer 44

Cameron Correcting others' grammar

Question 45

Hedges

Answer 45

Phrases which sound less abrupt and soften the way in which something is said. - Used more by women (Trudgill & Cheshire) - Used to come across more agreeable, likeable and polite

Question 46

Attention Getting Phrases

Answer 46

Used to get attention - Can you believe that?

Question 47

Bald On Record

Answer 47

When there is no attempt to mitigate the face-threatening act that’s made

Question 48

Bald Off Record

Answer 48

A politeness strategy where a face-threatening act is only implied, not directly stated RELIES ON IMPLICATURE / PRAGMATICS

Question 49

Phatic Language

Answer 49

Language which is devoid in context but supports social relationships - E.g. Small talk

Question 50

Deictic Reference

Answer 50

A comment which is context dependent ISOLATES THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE GROUP