AO1 - Technical Language

English Language

Hegemony

When a social group uses language to dominate or control others.

Pejorative term

A judgemental word that implies disapproval or negativity.

Adjective

A describing word (e.g., “beautiful”).

Evaluative adjective

Gives a judgement about a noun (e.g., “awful work”).

Comparative adjective

Compares two things; usually ends in “-er” (e.g., “faster”).

Adverb

Describes how, when, or where something happens (e.g., “quickly”).

Adverbs of manner

Describe how something is done (e.g., “kissed me passionately”).

Adverbs of time

Describe when something happens (e.g., “tomorrow”, “regularly”).

Conjunction

Connects words or clauses (e.g., “and”, “but”, “because”).

Noun

A naming word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

Concrete noun

Something physical and tangible (e.g., “table”, “dog”).

Abstract noun

Something non-physical, often feelings or ideas (e.g., “love”).

Adjectival phrase

A phrase describing a noun (e.g., “disgustingly ugly”).

Adverbial phrase

A phrase describing how something is done (e.g., “very quickly”).

Clause

A group of words containing a verb; can sometimes be a full sentence.

Coordinating clause

Joins two equal ideas using conjunctions like “and” (e.g., “I like doughnuts, and you do too.”).

Hyperbole

Exaggeration for effect.

Meiosis

Deliberate understatement; the opposite of hyperbole.

Idiom

A fixed saying with a figurative meaning (e.g., “raining cats and dogs”).

Idiolect

The unique language style of an individual person.

Dialect

Words and grammar used by a specific regional or social group.

Sociolect

Language used by a particular social group (class, age, gender).

Accent

The way someone pronounces words; shaped by region or identity.

Declarative sentence

A statement that gives information.

Imperative sentence

A command or instruction.

Interrogative sentence

A question (ends with “?”).

Exclamative sentence

A sentence expressing strong emotion (usually ends with “!”).

sociolinguistics

The study of how language is influenced by society, including factors like region, class, gender, age, ethnicity, occupation, and power, and how people use language to express identity and relationships.