Language Change Glossary Flashcards
(44 cards)
What are ‘Acronyms’?
A lexicalised word is made up from the initial letters of phrase (e.g. RADAR)
What is ‘Amelioration’?
A word takes on a different, more positive meaning + gains status
What is ‘Back Formation’?
The removal of an imagined affix from an existing word (e.g. Editor became ‘edit’
What is meant by ‘Blend’?
Two words fusing to make a new one (e.g. smog; smoke + fog)
What is ‘Borrowing’?
Introduction of a word from one language to another
What is ‘Broadening’?
A word keeps its original meaning but acquires others
What is ‘Clipping’?
A new word is produced by shortening an existing one (e.g. edit from editor)
What is meant by ‘Compound’?
Combining separate words to create a new word, sometimes using a hyphen to link them (e.g. Size Zero, Man Flu, Carbon Footprint)
What is meant by ‘Conversion’?
A word changes its word class without affixation (e.g. Text - noun + verb)
What is meant by ‘Drift’?
Old meanings become forgotten, words take on new meanings according to relevant context
What is meant by ‘Eponym’?
Name of a person after whom something is named
What is meant by ‘Euphemism’?
Describing something unpleasant in a more pleasant manner
What are ‘Idioms’?
A speech form, or expression, that can’t be understood literally from the meanings of the individual parts
What are ‘Initialisms’?
A word made from individual letters, each being pronounced (e.g. CD, DJ)
What are ‘Metaphors’?
An abstract comparison that describes one thing as if it were another
What is ‘Narrowing’?
Word becomes more specific in meaning
What are ‘Neologisms’?
The creation of new words and expressions (coinage)
What is ‘Pejoration’?
A word takes on a different, more negative meaning and loses status
What are ‘Prefixes’?
Addition of bound morpheme to beginning of root word (e.g. mega, uber)
What is meant by ‘Proprietary Name’?
Name given to a product by one organisation becomes the commonly used name for the same product
What is meant by ‘Semantic Change’?
Occurs when words expands, contract and settle
What is meant by ‘Suffix’?
Addition of bound morpheme to end of root word; e.g. (radical)ising
What are ‘Synonyms’?
Different words that mean the same thing
What is meant by ‘Weakening’?
A word loses the strength of its original meaning
