2 Cambridge Terminology Quiz

For Mrs. Huermans Class

Acronym

A word formed from the initial letters of two or more successive words (e.g. JROTC, UNESCO, NATO)

Initialism

 An abbreviation consisting of initial letters pronounced separately

(e.g. CEO, PTA, NCAA) (words you pronounce every letter—not read in fluid motion)

Amelioration

Where a word takes on a more positive connotation over time (e.g. nice originally meant foolish)

Archaism

A word which is no longer in everyday use or has lost a particular meaning in current usage

(e.g. “thou” for you and “art” for are)

Backformation

The formation of a word from another one, from which it appears to be derived

(e.g. the verb “to babysit” from the earlier “babysitter”)

Blending

Forming a new word by combining the beginning of one word and the end of another

(e.g. Spanglish (Spanish & English) or Smog (smoke & fog)

Borrowing

Introducing specific words or forms of words from one language into another (pasta from Italian into English)

Broadening

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

(e.g. the earlier meaning of dog meant a specific breed rather than a whole species)

Clipping

Where a word is shortened to form a new variant

(e.g. advertisement became ad)

Coinage

The creation of new words in a language

(e.g. google or frisbee)

Colloquial

The casual conversation of everyday language (e.g. rizz or chat)

Compounding

Forming a word from two or more units that are themselves words

(e.g. whiteboard from white and board… or toothbrush or hairdryer)

Conversion

Creating a new word by using an existing word in a different word class

(e.g. the noun “green” in golf was converted from the adjective green (color))

Derivation

Creating a new word from an existing word, often with the addition of a prefix or suffix

(e.g. unwilling derives from will with the prefix un- and the suffix -ing)

Eponym

The name of something that is also the name of someone credited with inventing or discovering it

(e.g. Bhor’s law, Fahrenheit, —typically scientist & their inventions)

Narrowing

When the meaning of a word becomes narrower or more limited than its earlier meaning

(e.g. the earlier form of meat originally referred to ALL food but now it generally refers to flesh like fish or chicken)

Neology

The process through which new words are formed including acronyms, blends, compounds and enopyms (e.g. selfie)

Obsolete

In languages, relates to words which are no longer in use and often no longer understood

Pejoration

When a word takes on a more negative connotation over time (e.g. silly once meant blessed)

Telescoping

The contradiction of a phrase, word or part of a word

(e.g. biodegradable from biologically degradable)

Phonology

The study of the cognitive aspects of sounds and sound patterns (e.g. how we attach meaning to speech sounds)

Morphology

The study of words and the various forms they take