English Language 9093 - Paper 3 - 3

Archaism

Words that are no longer used in everyday life or lost meaning in current usage

etymology

the study of the historical relation between a word and the earlier form or forms from which it has developed

Amelioration

word's meaning becomes more positive over time (nice from foolish/absurd)

Pejoration

shift of words' meanings over time from neutral or positive to negative (gaudy - pompous; silly)

broadening

When the meaning of a word becomes broader or more inclusive than its earlier meaning

narrowing

when the meaning of a word becomes narrower and more exclusive than its earlier meaning (meat - all food ; animal flesh)

prescriptivism

view that language should have strict rules that must be obeyed in speech and writing

descriptivism

the view that no use of language is incorrect and that variation should be acknowledged and recorded rather than corrected

discourse genres

Styles of written and spoken communication

computer mediated discourse

the specialized form of language between online users