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41 Terms
1
Eponym
The name of something that is also the name of someone credited with inventing or discovering it.
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Etymology
A study of the history of a word and its earlier forms and meanings.
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Euphemism
A mild, indirect vague term used instead of one considered harsh or offensive.
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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.
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Figurative language
Language which expands upon the basic or literal meaning of a word or phrase (e.g. simile or metaphor).
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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.
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Foregrounding
Using grammatical or syntactic devices to draw attention to a particular idea in a text.
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Form
Generally, the specific type of whatever category is being considered (e.g. textual form, verb form, grammatical form).
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9
Formality
The extent to which spoken or written texts either conform to standard conventions or employ more personal language strategies.
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10
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).
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Grammar
Has a wide meaning, but generally relates to rules for the organisation of meaning in a language.
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Head word
The main word in a phrase (e.g. the noun boy in the noun phrase the happy boy).
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13
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).
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In medias res
Beginning a narrative in the middle of the events without any build-up or initial explanation.
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Inference
The act of deducing implied meanings.
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16
Infinitive
The basic, dictionary form of a verb when not associated with a tense.
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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).
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Intertextuality
Where a text produces additional meaning by referring in some way to another text.
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19
Irony
When the intended meaning of a text or utterance differs radically from its literal interpretation.
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20
Jargon
Words and phrases known primarily by a group of people – often within a particular profession – which enable them to exchange complex information efficiently.
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21
Lexical field
A set of words grouped by meaning around a specific subject- law or medicine, for example.
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22
Lexis
The complete vocabulary of a language.
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23
Metalanguage
Language which is used to describe or comment on language (e.g. This translates as… or I meant to say...).
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24
Modality
The modality of an utterance refers to the attitude a speaker or writer takes to the idea being expressed (e.g. certainty, possibility, obligation, ability).
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25
Mode
The format through which ideas or content are communicated to an audience.
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Modifier
A word or phrase that qualifies or describes (usually an adverb/adverbial phrase or adjective/adjective phrase).
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27
Monologue
Discourse entirely spoken or written by one person.
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Mood
A grammatical feature through which a speaker or writer can express modality (i.e. an attitude towards the content of an utterance).
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Multimodal
Consisting of more than one mode.
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Narrative
A spoken or written account of connected events.
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Narrative structure
The way in which a story is constructed.
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Narrative voice
The voice of the person telling the story.
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Netspeak
The language of the internet.
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Noun
A word that identifies people, places, or things.
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Noun phrase
A word (or group of words working together) which names a person, place or thing.
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Object
In grammar, the object is the thing or person acted upon by the subject.
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Omniscient narrator
Where the narrator in a story knows all the thoughts, actions and feelings of the characters.
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Passive voice
Where the subject receives the action of a verb.
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Personification
Attributing human characteristics to nonhuman things.
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Perspective
Point of view.
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Phrase
A group of words that do not constitute a complete sentence.
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