English Bimestral VOCAB

Code switching: process of shifting from one linguistic code (a language or dialect) to another, depending on the social context or conversational setting.

Prescriptive grammar: specifies how a language and its grammar rules should be used and assumes there is a “correct” way ot use it.

Descriptive grammar: a study of a language, its structure, and its rules as they are used in daily life by its speakers from all walks of life

Magical realism: Incorporating fantastical or mythical elements into otherwise realistic stories with serious themes

Conformity: adapting to and going along with majority behaviors

Multiculturalism: Looks at the mixing of cultures

Graphic novel/Sequential art: Combining images and words in sequence to tell stories is as old as language. Stories told using visuals and words.

Existentialism: Philosophy that looks at individual choice and thought

Assimilation: blending into larger culture (good/bad)

New Journalism: Applies novelistic techniques to non-fiction stories

Often make the reporter part of the story

Uses imagery, character, and dialogue (sometimes invented/ embellished/recreated)

Gallows humor: Dark comedy

Absurd: Inconsistent with common sense and logic

Relativism: Truth or morality is based on perspective, relative to each person’s experience

Medium: method or material used for art/communication

Genre: A style or category of art, music, or literature