Elements of a language
What is semantics?
The meaning of words.
When was Early Modern English?
15th - 17th century
What is compounding?
Joining two complete words - airport
Expanding a word's meaning to refer to a greater range of items or to include additional meanings is called...
Broadening
What are the three myths about English (Jean Aitchison)
The Crumbling Castle; The Damp Spoon; The Infectious Disease
What is phonology?
The pronunciation of words.
When was Late Modern English?
17th century (end) - present day
What is the process of shortening long words called?
Clipping (advertisement - ad)
What is amelioration?
Shifting a word's meaning from negative to positive, or adding a secondary positive meaning.
Why does language change according to Halliday?
Language changes according to the needs of its users.
What is syntax?
The order of words in a sentence. It is a part of grammar.
What are the characteristics of Early Modern English period?
Influence of Latin, Greek, and other European languages (Inkhorn Controversy); the introduction of the printing press led to a gradual standardization of English spelling; The Great Vowel Shift
What is backformation?
A form of clipping where a long word or phrase is shortened and gives a new word in a different form – nouns to verbs are common: babysitter - babysit
What is narrowing?
Reducing a word's meaning to refer to a smaller range of meaning than previously.
What are the two models of language change spread?
Tree and wave model.
What is graphology?
The writing system and other visual elements on the page.
What are the characteristics of Late Modern English period?
The Industrial Revolution; Colonization; American English; Technological developments; Globalization
What is blending / telescoping?
Two words combined; one or both are incomplete: motel
Shifting a word's meaning from positive to negative, or adding a secondary negative meaning is...
Pejoration
What is the name of the model of language change in which the change takes root and its spread is accelerated and then it levels off and who is the author of it?
S-curve model; Chen
What is pragmatics?
How context affects understanding of words and phrases.
When was Samuel Johnson's "A Dictionary of the English Language" published?
1755
What is the difference between acronymization and initialism?
When initial letters of a name or description form completely new words, it's acronymization. When initial letters of a series of words are pronounced by saying the letter names, it's initialism.
Name the processes: 1 sophisticated; 2 conspiracy; 3 bookmark; 4 wife
1 amelioration; 2 pejoration; 3 broadening; 4 narrowing
Why does language change according to: 1 Hartl and Clark; 2 Hockett; 3 substratum theory?
1 Language change occurs when an individual perceives a benefit in adopting a linguistic innovation or variation (cultural transmission); 2 Linguistic change is seen as a by-product of the inherently unpredictable nature of communication between individuals (random fluctuation); 3 the influence of pre-existing languages on a new dominant language.