English language terminology

Filler

A word, phrase or sound used to fill a pause while speaking.

Primary purpose

The main and most easily recognizable purpose

Secondary purpose

An additional and more subtle purpose

Contraction

A shortened form of a word, group of words, often created by combining words and omitting letters

Colloquial

Informal language typically used in everyday conversation (e.g. kids instead of children)

Polysyllabic

A a word containing more than one syllable

Neologism

A newly created word, expression or meaning given to an existing word (e.g. selfie or Google)

Idiom

A fixed expression whose meanings cannot always be understood literally from the individual words (e.g. it's raining cats and dogs)

Idiolect

The individual way a person uses language. It is unique and influenced by factors like age, gender, social background. (e.g. always saying literally)

Sociolect

The language associated with a certain social group. It can be influenced by age, ethnicity, occupation (e.g. teenagers saying bro)

Dialect

Language associated with a particular geographical region. It inc(e.g. me instead of my)

Synonym

Words that mean or nearly mean the same thing

Denotation

Dictionary definition of a word

Connotation

Figurative or emotional meanings of a word

Prototype

The ‘best fit’ example of a particular category

Antonym

One pair of words with opposite meaning (e.g hot and cold)

Formality

The level of acceptability in language, often dependent on context

Register

The type of language used in a particular situation. This can be spoken, written or multi model

Mode

Method of communication- written, spoken or electronic

Field

The topic area

Genre

Way of grouping text based on expected shared conventions

Accent

Language/pronounciation associated with a particular

Collocation

The idea certain words are likely to appear together (e.g. bull shit)

Lexeme

A word

Metaphor

Comparison between 2 things without using like or as

Simile

Comparison between 2 things using like or as

Personification

Giving non human things human qualities or actuons

Oxymoron

2 words placed together with opposite meaning

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration used to emphasize something

Sociolinguistics

The study of the relationship between language and society

Term of address

Words/expressions used to address another person (e.g. Mr, bro)

Reciprocal address

Both speakers using equivalent forms of address (e.g. hi mate/bud)

Non reciprocal address

Speaker uses different forms of address (e.g. morning Jack/Mr Williams)

Macro variation

Language variation due to social factors

Micro variation

Language variation due to immediate situations