Terminology

This is a list of terminology which may be found useful in an A-level English language course.

Cohesion
-Refers to the way texts hold together, the way parts connect. This connection can be through words, grammar and ideas.

Coinage
-The creation of a completely new word.

Collocation
-The way certain words frequently appear together e.g. 'fish and chips'

Colloquial language
-The informal vocabulary used in everyday conversation e.g. 'Hey' and 'Cheers'.

Creole
-A pidgin language that has developed and become the first language of a new generation of speakers.

Deixis
-Deictic expressions cannot be understood unless the context of the utterance is known e.g. 'here and 'there'

Dialect
-A language variety in which features of vocabulary and grammar show the user belonging to a particular regional group.

Divergence
-When the speech styles of two or more people move away from each other.

Ellipsis
-The omission of part of a word, or of a word or words from a sentence, while still making sense. e.g. 'Going out tonight?'.

Euphemism
-The use of a mild word or phrase instead of one that could be harmful, offensive or unpleasant e.g. 'passed away' rather than 'dead'.

Graphology
-The appearance of a text influences how it is read and understood.

Hypernym/hyponym
-A hypernym is a general word linked to more specific words e.g. 'furniture' is a hypernym and 'desk is a hyponym of furniture.

Idiolect
-An individuals distinctive way of speaking.

Idiom
-An expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the meanings of the individual words that make up the expression e.g. 'It's raining cats and dogs'.

Interrogative
-A sentence that is a question e.g. 'What time is it?'.

Jargon
-The technical language of a certain occupation. The word is often used critically.

Lexis
-The vocabulary of a language.

Morphology
-The study of the structure of words.

Paralinguistic features
-Gestures and accompanying facial expressions which contribute to the communications of meanings in speech.

Phatic conventions
-Utterances such as 'you know' which establish and maintain social contact.

Phatic talk
- 'Small talk' in conversation e.g. 'Hi, how are you?'

Pragmatics
-The study of the part that language plays in social situations and relationships.

Semantic field
-A grouping of words with related or similar meanings - through being connected in a certain context.

Sociolect
-The distinctive vocabulary and grammatical constructions particular to an identifiable social group.

Sytax
-The way sentences are constructed, word order.

Taboo language.
-Words that are avoided because they are considered offensive, embarrassing, obscene or unpleasant.