English language Exam

Flashcards for language:

Language:

A meaning-making system where individuals convey information. ( It can be written or spoken).

Functions of language:

Referential function, Poetic function, Metalinguistic function, Emotive function, Conative function, Phatic function

Referential function:

Refers to stating something. It may be perceived as factual.

Eg: The Earth is the third planet from the sun.

Poetic function:

The way the words are set to convey meaning.

Eg: As the sun reflected off the water, so she reflected her mother, now departed.

Metalinguistic function:

Refers to language about language.

Eg: This sentence is too short.

Eg: Always capitalise proper nouns.

Emotive function:

Expressing emotions or desires.

Eg: Argh, you stepped on my toe.

Conative function:

Refers to directions, commands, or questions.

Eg: Give that back

Phatic function

The function that maintains social connections.

Eg: Hi, nice to meet you.

Register:

Describes the way in which a person intentionally changes their language to better suit the situation.

Common registers include formal, informal, technical, public, ceremonial, and colloquial

Tenor

Tenor is the relationship between participants in a conversation. The relationship can be positive, negative, or neutral.

It may vary depending on: The professional role the participants play, the status between speakers (whether they are equal or not), the relationship between participants (whether they are strangers or close friends.)

Tenor may be described by the amount of social distance ( level of closeness and is described on a scale of socially close to socially distant.)

Context

Surrounding circumstances that influence how language is used and understood.

Language mode:

The way language is expressed, such as spoken, written or signed.

Setting:

Setting is where and when communication occurs.

Field:

Refers to the subject matter of the conversation.

Message

The idea, meaning or information that a speaker or writer wants to communicate.

Addreser:

The individual expressing the message to the audience.

Addressee

The audience receiving the message.

Contact:

The communication between the addressee and the addresser. It can be face-to-face, text message, or a phone call.

Code:

A set of signs common to both the addressee and the addresser.

Cultural context:

Relates to attitudes, beliefs, and values of the author as well as their audience.

Situational context:

Refers to everything outside of the text that shapes the language used within the text. This includes the field, tenor, language mode, setting and text type.

Sentence types:

Declerative, Interrogative, imperative, exclamative

Declarative sentence:

Makes a statement or gives information. May be presented as a fact, though it does not have to be true.

Eg: “I have a english exam tomorrow.”

Interrogative sentence:

A question so it ends in a question mark. Can be rhetorical.

Eg: “Do you have a english exam tomorrow?”

Imperative sentence:

Gives a command, instruction, or request.

Eg: “Study for your english exam.”

Exclamative sentence:

Exclaim something. Usually, the expression of strong emotion.

Eg: What a difficult maths exam that was!