Unit 1: Language - Chronological Word List

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering terms, phrases, and definitions from Unit 1: Language across pages 7 to 14 of Focus on Success PLUS.

To inhibit sth

To make something difficult to happen or stop it from happening altogether.

Linguistic deterioration

Language evolution viewed as taking a turn for the worse.

Cultural awareness

A deeper understanding of cultures other than your own.

Lingua franca

A language commonly used in international business or official communication.

To wield persuasive power

To have the potential or capacity to persuade others.

To bolster sth

To support something or make something stronger.

Communication breakdown

The inability to communicate successfully due to constant misunderstandings.

To articulate thoughts clearly

To be able to express and convey one's thoughts in a meaningful and understandable way.

To decipher sth

To decode, interpret, or translate something.

To have a strong command of sth

To be proficient in something or have internalized knowledge of it.

Subtleties

Fine nuances, especially nuances of meaning.

Trajectory

The path or course taken by something, such as a development.

To persist

To continue regardless of obstacles or opposition.

Agreement

The grammatical correlation between different word forms in a phrase or sentence.

Calibration

The process of adjusting something to a fine degree.

Chance encounter

An unplanned or accidental meeting with someone.

To captivate sb

To hold someone's complete attention, interest, or charm.

To transcend sth

To overcome, go beyond, or surpass something, especially a limit.

Blunder

A serious, careless, or embarrassing mistake.

To churn sth out

To produce output rapidly and in large quantities.

Language acquisition

The process of learning or acquiring a language.

Polyglot

A person who speaks many different languages.

Polymath

A person who excels across many different fields of study.

Halting

Slow, hesitant, or stumbling in speech or movement.

Without incident

Uneventful, taking place with a complete absence of problems.

To immerse oneself into sth

To become deeply involved, absorbed, or engaged in something.

Most acutely

In the highest degree; most intensely or sharply.

As a matter of course

Automatically, occurring as a natural consequence.

Inherent

Existing as an intrinsic, innate, or natural part of something.

To mangle sth

To ruin, distort, or mutilate something, such as botching a speech.

Subtle shading

Delicate, fine nuances or gradations in meaning.

Intermediary

Someone who acts as a link or mediator between two parties to facilitate communication.

to inhibit sth

To make sth difficult to happen or stop it from happening altogether.

tribe

People belonging to the same ethnic group sharing the same customs, traditions, etc.

spring

Natural source of water.

gourd

A bottle made out of some sort of pumpkin.

linguist

Sb who studies language.

to be parched

To be very thirsty.

renowned

Famous for sth.

to gush

To flow quickly and amply.

thrill

Rush of excitement.

to sweep sth away

To remove sth swiftly.

to facilitate sth

To make sth possible.

transmission of information

Sending and receiving information.

language transformation

The changing of structural and lexical aspects of language.

linguistic deterioration

Language evolution viewed as taking a turn for the worse.

to be proficient in a foreign language

To speak a foreign language fluently.

cultural awareness

A deeper understanding of cultures other than your own.

lingua franca

A language commonly used in international business or official communication.

native language

The first language sb learns.

to wield persuasive power

To have the potential to persuade others.

gender-neutral language

A use of language that doesn't prefer one gender over another.

to bolster sth

To support sth, to make sth stronger.

societal shifts

Profound changes in society.

insight (into sth)

Deeper understanding of sb/sth.

jargon

Vocabulary and language used only by a distinct group of people.

communication breakdown

The inability to communicate successfully due to constant misunderstandings.

misunderstanding

Failure to understand correctly.

to misinterpret sth

To form an understanding that is incorrect.

to articulate thoughts clearly

To be able to express and convey one's thoughts in a meaningful way.

decline (in sth)

Decrease in quality, strength or amount.

to have a strong command of sth

To be proficient in sth.

subtleties

Fine nuances, e.g. of meaning.

unintended

Accidental, not on purpose.

high-spirited demeanor AE

Being overtly joyful and in a contagious good mood.

trajectory

Course, e.g. of a development.

to persist

To continue regardless.

appendix

Section at the end of a book, e.g. an index or bibliography.

imperative

Absolutely necessary.

agreement

Correlation of grammatical forms in a phrase.

in earnest

Seriously.

to support oneself

To make a living from sth.

undigested

Not really understood.

calibration

Adjusting sth to a fine degree.

amidst

In the middle of, at the centre of.

to transcend sth

To overcome sth, esp. a limit.

to draw to a close

To gradually finish.

to decode sth

To translate or understand sth correctly.

to churn sth out

To produce some output quickly and in large amounts.

tasting menu

A multiple-course meal highlighting a restaurant's specialities.

language acquisition

The process of learning a language.

polyglot

Sb who speaks many languages.

polymath

Sb who excels in many different fields of study.

sustained

Ongoing, continued.

to humanize oneself

To show one's humanity.

without incident

Uneventful, with an absence of problems.

most acutely

In the highest degree, most intensely.

to devote sth to sb/sth

To dedicate sth to sb/sth.

as a matter of course

Automatically, as a natural consequence.

inherent

Intrinsic, innate, natural.

subtle shading

Nuanced.

intermediary

Someone who acts as a link between two parties to facilitate communication.