Aice english lang

Accent

 Accents are the pronunciation of words within a specific region, nation, or social group. These are used to show a word's pronunciation or to distinguish the meaning of words spelled the same way.  

Phonetics

Phonetics are the study of speech sounds and how they are pronounced. These are mainly used in linguistic analysis and to teach pronunciation. 

Phoneme

Phoneme are the smallest detectable sound unit in a language that sets one word apart from another. These are used in all spoken languages to build words and create different meanings for words. 

Intonations

Intonations are the fluctuations in voice during speech, which might change a word's meaning. These are used to show emotion and convey the start and end of a statement.

Micropause

 A micropause is a short pause in someone's sentence to take a breath in between speaking. These can be used to emphasize an idea or improve the flow of a conversation. 

Tone units

Tone units are the phrases used during conversation which can be interrupted by micropauses. These are used to convey attitude and emphasis a certain idea or statement.

Pitch movement

 Pitch movement is the natural rise and fall when speaking. These are used to convey different tones when speaking and add emphasis.

Tonic syllable

Tonic syllables are the main stress in a tone unit. These are used to emphasize the most important syllable.

Babbling

Babbling is the earliest form of speech seen in children. This is when children make incoherent noises without forming any real words. You would use this when referring to a young child’s development of language.

Caretaker language

 Caretaker language is the kind and simple language used by those who take care of others, so they understand easily. Caretaker language is used when talking to young children to help them learn to speak.

Holophrastic

Holophrastics are single words that can express the main idea of a full sentence. It is used when a child is attempting to communicate their wants, needs, and thoughts.

Polisive

 Polisives are when a tiny gasp of air is released after the ending of a sentence or statement. It is used when the speaker wants to express a harsh tone when discussing events, items, etc.

Nasal

 Nasals are when air passes through the nose that makes a small noise. It is used to describe sounds made by air flowing through your nose, like m ', ‘n’, ‘ng’.

Telegraphic stage

The telegraphic stage is when children speak small words to get their wants and needs across using their limited vocabulary. It is used to describe the stage of language development, specifically when discussing children aged 2 to 3.

Overextension

An overextension is when a word is used very broadly compared to what most people would express the original word as. It is used to describe a child’s tendency to use words too broadly, like calling all four-legged animals ‘doggie’.

Underextension

 An underextension is when a word is used narrowly compared to how it would originally be used. It is used to describe a young child undergoing language development’s tendency to use a broad word to describe a single object, like only calling their shoes ‘shoes’.

Hypernyms

 Hypernyms are words that classify as a category. They are used to describe broad categories of things in language. 

Hyponyms

Hyponyms are very specific words that cannot be reworded into a broader way as used for hypernyms. It is used to describe the specific objects that fall under the hypernym categories. 

Virtuous errors

Virtuous errors are when children make mistakes in their conversations when they try to apply the grammar rules they have previously observed. It is used when describing language and grammar mistakes typically made by children in language development, like saying swimmed.

Idiom

Idioms are phrases that have a different meaning then what the words used to express the statement mean. These are used to add a unique touch to a statement and express complex ideas. They are used in everyday conversations, informal writing, and speeches.

Abverbs and abverbial phrases

Words and phrases which modify, or add to, adjectives, both in written language and in speech. They are used to convey the attitudes and values of the speaker and intensify their feelings and opinions. 

Back-channeling

Feedback in words and sounds that a listener gives a speaker to show they are listening. It can be used in casual conversation or professional settings to gather information.

Contraction

A word or words shortened by placing an apostrophe. This is used to show letters have been omitted. They are mainly used in informal settings. 

Deixis

Words which locate the conversation in a particular space or context that a non-participant would not be able to make sense of. They are used in everyday language to identify people, places, times, and events.

Discourse marker

Words or phrases which mark boundaries between one bit of conversation and another, where the speaker wishes to change the subject. They are used during introductions.

Ellipsis

The omission of a word or words in speech or writing, though the sense is still evident through the context. They are mainly used to indicate a pause or the ending of a sentence.

Transcription or transcript

Can indicate a silence, which is also considered to be an ellipsis. They are used when converting audio or video into text.

False starts

 When a speaker realizes they have made an error and attempts to repair it through reformation. They are used in both spoken and written conversations.

Fixed expressions

Help us maintain a shared understanding of the culture around us. They are used in everyday conversations to express ideas. 

Culture

All the values and information for life in a society. Culture is used in different settings with a certain group of people.

Colloquial

The casual conversation of everyday language. This type of language is used every day when speaking to another person. 

Cliched

Often used and taken from another source, not original. They are used in everyday speech, writing, and conversation.

Hedges and vague questions

 Strategies used when we want to avoid coming to the point or say things indirectly. They are used in everyday and academic conversations.

Metalanguage

Used when a person realizes that they have made an error. These are used in everyday conversations because we often make errors during conversations.

Phatic communication

Communication mainly in the form of greetings, which has a social function to help build a relationship between participants. They are used to start conversations or make small talk.

Diversity

The state of varying. This is used to describe things that are different or different groups of people. 

Modality

Used in conjunction with hedges, and allows us to introduce different options and compromises for negotiation between participants. Used to introduce different points of view

Non-fluency features

 include fillers, which give us time to think and/or announce that we are going to say something when the sound is extended. This is used in unscripted conversations.

Non-standard english

Commonly used where a speaker struggles to phrase utterances completely. It is used in informal settings like with friends.

Repetition

A deliberate repeat for emphasis, or unintentional, to gain thinking time to continue the conversation. It is often used in poetry when intentional and in normal conversation when unintentional.

Tag questions

Occur when a speaker adds a question to prompt a response from the listener. These are used at the end of a conversation to comfort the listener is understanding.

Vague expressions

Soften authoritative requests and maintain greater engagement between speakers. These are used in informal conversations or informal writing.