Subsystem Patterning (Chap1)

Question 1

What are the five subsystems of language patterning?

Answer 1

• Phonological
• Morphological
• Syntactic
• Semantic
• Lexical

These subsystems categorize the language patterns in written and spoken texts.

Question 2

Define phonetics.

Answer 2

The study of how we make speech sounds and how we organize these sounds.

Phonetics focuses on the physical properties of speech sounds.

Question 3

What is phonology?

Answer 3

The study of the patterns that speech sounds form within a language.

Phonology includes concepts like the IPA and prosodic features.

Question 4

What is phonological patterning used for?

Answer 4

To express creativity and for fun in spoken or written language.

Authors may create effects through various phonological techniques.

Question 5

What is alliteration?

Answer 5

The repetition of the same initial consonant sound in closely placed words.

Example: ‘pretty practical pants’

Question 6

Define assonance.

Answer 6

The repetition of vowel sounds within closely placed words.

Example: ‘fleet of jeeps’

Question 7

What is consonance?

Answer 7

The repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity.

Example: ‘bees in the trees buzzed with ease.’

Question 8

Define onomatopoeia.

Answer 8

Words that phonetically imitate or resemble the sound they describe.

Example: ‘squawked’ and ‘rustle’.

Question 9

What is morphology?

Answer 9

The study of words and their parts, including morphemes.

Morphemes are the smallest units of meaning in a word.

Question 10

List some morphological patterns.

Answer 10

• Affixation
• Abbreviation
• Shortening
• Compounding
• Blending
• Backformation
• Conversion of word class
• Initialism
• Acronym
• Contraction

These processes involve changing or forming words.

Question 11

What does lexicology study?

Answer 11

The form, meaning, and behavior of words.

Includes word formation processes like neologism and borrowings.

Question 12

Define syntax.

Answer 12

The study of how words are ordered in structures that communicate meaning.

This includes phrases, clauses, word order, and sentences.

Question 13

What is syntactic patterning?

Answer 13

The use of specific structures to create rhythm and memorability in text.

It enhances meaning and understanding for readers.

Question 14

What is parallelism?

Answer 14

The repetition of grammatical structures two or more times in succession.

Example: ‘Work hard, stay focused.’

Question 15

Define antithesis.

Answer 15

The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in parallel structures.

Example: ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.’

Question 16

What does listing refer to in syntax?

Answer 16

Presenting a series of related ideas or elements in similar grammatical form.

Example: ‘I need to buy pies, cakes, hot dogs and sausage rolls.’

Question 17

What is discourse?

Answer 17

Written and spoken texts that are longer than a sentence.

Discourse encompasses various forms of communication.

Question 18

Define pragmatics.

Answer 18

The study of how language is used within a given context.

It explores how context contributes to meaning.

Question 19

What is lexical choice?

Answer 19

The role of content words in creating texts.

Includes concepts like synonymy and antonymy.

Question 20

Define synonymy.

Answer 20

Using pairs or groups of words that are very similar in meaning.

Example: ‘choice, selection, preference’.

Question 21

What is antonymy?

Answer 21

The relationship of words that are opposite in meaning.

Example: ‘hot and cold’.

Question 22

What are hyponymy and hypernymy?

Answer 22

• Hyponymy: A word belonging to a larger category
• Hypernymy: The larger category itself

Example: ‘Cat’ is a hyponym of ‘animal’.

Question 23

What does ellipsis refer to?

Answer 23

The omission of words or phrases.

Example: ‘Lauren first went to school then Lauren went home right after.’

Question 24

What is repetition in discourse?

Answer 24

The same word repeated throughout a text to reiterate an idea.

It emphasizes key points.

Question 25

Define substitution in discourse.

Answer 25

Using alternative words, phrases, or clauses in place of the original. ## Footnote Example: 'The former premier shook his hand.'

Question 26

What is collocation?

Answer 26

Words that typically appear next to each other in texts. ## Footnote Example: 'strong or weak tea'.

Question 27

What are adverbials?

Answer 27

Words, phrases, or clauses that provide information related to time, place, or manner. ## Footnote Example: 'Firstly, we will do a warm-up game.'

Question 28

What are conjunctions?

Answer 28

Words that join phrases and clauses. ## Footnote Example: 'I like cats but Jamie likes dogs.'

Question 29

What is front focus?

Answer 29

When new or important information is placed at the beginning of a sentence. ## Footnote Example: 'Potato cakes I like.'

Question 30

Define clefting.

Answer 30

Modification of syntax to emphasize a particular element. ## Footnote Example: 'It is potato cakes that I like.'

Question 31

What is end focus?

Answer 31

When new or important information is placed at the end of a sentence. ## Footnote Example: 'The time to paint the house has come.'

Question 32

What are openings in spoken discourse?

Answer 32

The initial phase where speakers establish contact and introduce the topic. ## Footnote Example: 'Hi, I am Phoebe.'

Question 33

Define closings in discourse.

Answer 33

The final phase where participants wrap up and exchange remarks. ## Footnote Example: 'Have a safe journey!'

Question 34

What are adjacency pairs?

Answer 34

Sequentially linked utterances in a conversation. ## Footnote Example: 'Hey, how ya going? Yo! Good, good!'

Question 35

What are minimal responses?

Answer 35

Brief replies in a conversation. ## Footnote Example: 'Right.' or 'I see.'

Question 36

Define discourse particles.

Answer 36

Linguistic elements that organize communication but do not carry semantic meaning. ## Footnote Example: 'Well, I think…'

Question 37

What are non-fluency features?

Answer 37

Aspects of discourse that reduce cohesion. ## Footnote Examples include pauses and filled pauses.

Question 38

Define pauses in discourse.

Answer 38

Breaks in speech that disrupt fluency. ## Footnote Example: 'I went. to. The principal’s office.'

Question 39

What are filled pauses?

Answer 39

Voiced hesitations during speech. ## Footnote Example: 'Uh, I spent, um, all of my money?'

Question 40

What is a false start in speech?

Answer 40

An initial attempt at speech that is corrected or modified. ## Footnote Example: 'So, I ju, I mean I only left for ten, I mean twenty minutes.'

Question 41

What is a repair in discourse?

Answer 41

A correction made during speech. ## Footnote Example: 'I have, I mean had, enough money.'

Question 42

What is semantics?

Answer 42

The study of understanding and meaning-making in language. ## Footnote It considers both logical and lexical meanings.

Question 43

Define semantic patterning.

Answer 43

The organization of meanings within a text to aid cohesion and coherence. ## Footnote It helps capture and maintain audience attention.

Question 44

What is irony in semantics?

Answer 44

Expressing something contrary to what is expected, often for humorous effect. ## Footnote Example: 'Oh, great. Another SAC.'

Question 45

What is a metaphor?

Answer 45

A figure of speech that describes one thing in terms of another. ## Footnote Example: 'Love is a battlefield.'

Question 46

Define oxymoron.

Answer 46

A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. ## Footnote Example: 'Virtual reality.'

Question 47

What is a simile?

Answer 47

A comparison using 'like' or 'as'. ## Footnote Example: 'She slept like a baby.'

Question 48

What is hyperbole?

Answer 48

Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally. ## Footnote Example: 'I’ve told you a thousand times.'

Question 49

Define personification.

Answer 49

Attributing human qualities to inanimate objects or concepts. ## Footnote Example: 'The old house groaned under the weight of its history.'

Question 50

What is animation in semantics?

Answer 50

Bringing inanimate objects or fictional characters to life. ## Footnote Example: 'The words danced off the page.'

Question 51

What is lexical ambiguity?

Answer 51

The existence of two or more possible meanings within a single word. ## Footnote Example: 'Parking fine.'

Question 52

What are puns?

Answer 52

A form of lexical ambiguity used for humor or rhetorical effect. ## Footnote Example: 'Riding my bike every day made me too tired.'

Question 53

What is a semantic domain?

Answer 53

Grouping of words based on shared or related meanings. ## Footnote Example: 'Cupcake, knead, dough, icing.'

Question 54

What is an idiom?

Answer 54

Commonly used phrases with non-literal meanings. ## Footnote Example: 'Her blood is worth bottling.'

Question 55

Define denotation.

Answer 55

The literal meaning of a word. ## Footnote Example: 'Home – a place that someone lives in.'

Question 56

What is connotation?

Answer 56

The set of associations and values attributed to a word. ## Footnote Example: 'Home – a place of safety, warmth, and comfort.'

Question 57

What is a euphemism?

Answer 57

Words or phrases used in place of blunt or taboo terms. ## Footnote Example: 'pass away' instead of die.

Question 58

Define dysphemism.

Answer 58

A term used to magnify a blunt or taboo word or phrase. ## Footnote Example: 'worm food' instead of 'dead'.