Cambridge AS Terms 41-80

Etymology

A study of the history of a word and its earlier forms and meanings.

Euphemism

A mild, indirect vague term used instead of one considered harsh or offensive

Exophoric reference

Where a word refers to something outside a text for its meaning, typically as a consequence of a writer or speaker’s expectations as to the knowledge already possessed by the text’s intended audience.

Figurative language

Language which expands upon the basic or literal meaning of a word or phrase (e.g. simile or metaphor).

First person narrative

Where a character in a story narrates the events that they are experiencing. Recognised by the use of I, we, us, our.

Foregrounding

Using grammatical or syntactic devices to draw attention to a particular idea in a text.

Form

Generally, the specific type of whatever category is being considered (e.g. textual form, verb form, grammatical form).
Used on its own, the word ‘form’ often refers to textual form. The division of texts into specific forms (e.g. speech, dialogue, poem, novel, website) involves categorising texts according to how their structural elements combine to create a unified and recognisable whole. Different forms of text can usually be subdivided into genres (e.g. persuasive speech, romantic novel, cooperative dialogue), depending on their content.

Formality

The extent to which spoken or written texts either conform to standard conventions or employ more personal language strategies.

Genre

A subdivision of textual form determined by the text’s content (e.g. fantasy novel, tragic play, ballad, online review, television commercial, formal report).

Grammar

Has a wide meaning, but generally relates to rules for the organisation of meaning in a language.

Head word

The main word in a phrase (e.g. the noun boy in the noun phrase the happy boy).

Idiom

Phrases generally understood in a language but which do not directly translate (e.g. I caught the train by the skin of my teeth = I only just caught the train in time).

In medias res

Beginning a narrative in the middle of the events without any build-up or initial explanation.

Inference

The act of deducing implied meanings.

Infinitive

The basic, dictionary form of a verb when not associated with a tense.

Intensifier

A word, often an adverb or adjective, which has little meaning by itself but is used to add force to other phrases (e.g. really, very).

Intertextuality

Where a text produces additional meaning by referring in some way to another text.

Irony

When the intended meaning of a text or utterance differs radically from its literal interpretation.

Jargon

Words and phrases known primarily by a group of people – often within a particular profession – which enable them to exchange complex information efficiently. Jargon may be unintelligible to people outside the group who use it.

Lexical field

A set of words grouped by meaning around a specific subject- law or medicine, for example

Lexis

The complete vocabulary of a language.

Metalanguage

Language which is used to describe or comment on language (e.g. This translates as… or I meant to say...).

Modality

The attitude a speaker or writer takes to the idea being expressed (e.g. certainty, possibility, obligation, ability).

Mode

The format through which ideas or content are communicated to an audience. Modes include spoken (e.g. a conversation, a spontaneous speech), written (e.g. a novel, the text of a leaflet), electronic (e.g. an email, a blog), and image (e.g. a photograph), and can be combined in a variety of mixed modes (e.g. a prepared speech, a podcast).

Modifier

A word or phrase-that qualifies or describes (usually an adverb/adverbial phrase or adjective/adjective phrase)

Monologue

Discourse entirely spoken or written by one person

Mood

A grammatical feature through which a speaker or writer can express modality (i.e. an attitude towards the content of an utterance), usually involving modal verbs such as can, ought or might. Moods include the indicative/declarative (making a statement), the interrogative (asking a question), the imperative (making a command), and the subjunctive (expressing wishes or uncertainty). Alternatively, ‘mood’ can also refer to the emotion or feelings evident in a text and the language used to create these feelings.

Multimodal

Consisting of more than one mode.

Narrative

A spoken or written account of connected events

Narrative structure

The way in which a story is constructed.

Narrative voice

The voice of the person telling the story

Netspeak

The language of the internet

Noun

A word that identifies people, places, or things

Noun phrase

A word (or group of words working together) which names a person, place or thing.

Object

In grammar, the object is the thing or person acted upon by the subject (e.g. the phrase the meal in the sentence The girl ate the meal).

Omniscient narrator

Where the narrator in a story knows all the thoughts, actions and feelings of the characters.

Passive voice

Where the subject receives the action of a verb (e.g. The ball was kicked).

Personification

Attributing human characteristics to nonhuman things

Perspective

Point of view.

Phrase

A group of words that do not constitute a complete sentence.