A Level English Language Language Levels

Semantic Field - a group of words/phrases with a common meaning

Denotation - dictionary definition

Connotation - the associated ideas with a word

Synonym - a word with the same meaning

Antonym - a word with the opposite meaning

Collocation/collocates - words which go together (salt and pepper)

Euphemism - a less harsh way of saying things

Dysphemism - a blunt way of saying things

Hypernym - an umbrella term/generic term

Hyponym - a part of a larger collection

Grice’s maxim of quality - what is said must be truthful

Grice’s maxim of quantity - what is said should be the right length

Grice’s maxim of relevance - what is said should be relevant

Grice’s maxim of manner - what is said should be clear

minor/fragment sentence - an incomplete sentence

simple sentence - a main clause on its own

compound sentence - two or more simple sentences joined by a conjunction

complex sentence - a sentence that contains at least one subordinate clause

interrogative - used to ask questions

declarative - used to make a statement

imperative - used to make a command

exclamative - used to make an exclamation

problem and solution (structure) - the text poses a problem and then provides the solution

cause and effect (structure) - the text introduces an issue and the consequences of it

cyclical (structure) - the text ends on the same thread as it started

narrative (structure) - the text tells a story

question and answer (structure) - the text poses a question and then provides an answer

turn taking (speech) - where speakers take turns to speak

adjacency pairs (speech) - pairs of conventional speech

false starts (non fluency features) - the speaker starts to speak but then stops and retries that start

repair (non fluency feature) - the speaker makes a mistake and correct is

filler (non fluency feature) - words which speakers use to gain time to think

back-channelling (non-fluency feature) - where a speaker passively agrees with what’s being said

anaphoric reference - looks back at the text

cataphoric reference - looks forwards into the text

graphology - the study of how aesthetics are produced

orthography - the study of writing and the rules attached

common noun - general nouns

proper noun - places and names

concrete noun - can be touched

abstract noun - cannot be touched

collective noun - refers to a group

main verb - the main action of a sentence

verbal verb - communicative actions

material verb - events or actions

dynamic verb - actions which have definitive starts and ends

mental and stative verbs - perceptions, cognitive processes and feelings

transitive verb - have a direct object

intransitive verb - don’t have a direct object

modal verbs - verbs which indicate a level of possibility or obligation

auxiliary verb - verbs which assist the main verb

modal auxiliary verb - verbs which assist the main verb and indicate possibility and obligation

copular verb - linking verb (be, is, was)

base adjective - simplest form

comparative adjective - used to compare

superlative adjective - used to indicate the most extreme form

time adverb - indicates when something occurs

place adverb - indicates where something occurs

manner adverb - indicates how something occurs

frequency adverb - indicates how often something occurs

quantifiers - gives a numerical value

demonstrative determiner - specify what is being referred to

definite determiners - something specific

indefinite determiners - something general

Adjectives of quality - describe the nature of a noun

Adjectives of quantity - refer to the amount of the noun - determiner

Possessive Adjectives - indicate to whom the following noun belongs to - determiner

Demonstrative adjectives - identify a specific noun - determiner

Interrogative adjectives - ask questions - determiner

Factual adjectives - provide extra facts about the noun

Opinionative adjectives - expresses an opinion about a noun

Coordinate adjectives - list of adjectives separated by commas whose order can be rearranged easily

Non-coordinate adjectives - cannot be rearranged, don't use commas

Comparative and superlative adjectives - allow you to compare things e.g. tall, taller, tallest