As Level English - Key Terminology

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Alliteration

Back 1

Repetition of the same sound beginning several words in a sequence.

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Allusion

Back 2

A short reference to a famous person, event, novel, film etc.

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Amplification

Back 3

A figure of speech that repeats a word or expression while adding more detail to it, in order to add emphasis.

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Anadiplosis

Back 4

The repetition of the last word of a clause or sentence at the beginning of the next.

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Analogy

Back 5

An extended metaphor/simile that draws a comparison between two things in order to develop a line of reasoning.

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Anaphora

Back 6

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or lines.

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Anastrophe

Back 7

Departure from normal word order for the sake of emphasis.

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Antistrophe

Back 8

A figure of speech that repeats the same word or phrase and the end of successive clauses.

(The opposite of ANAPHORA)

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Antithesis

Back 9

Deliberate contrast of ideas or word in consecutive phrases/sentences.

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Assonance

Back 10

Repetition of vowel sounds in non-rhyming words.

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Asyndeton

Back 11

A lack of conjunctions (e.g and) between successive words or phrases.

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Chiasmus

Back 12

The words in one phrase or clause are reversed in the next.

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Climax

Back 13

A figure of speech where words or phrases are arranged in order of increasing importance or emphasis.

(Often used with PARALLELISM)

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Consonance

Back 14

Repetition of consonant sounds within words or ending words.

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Contrasting past and future tense

Back 15

"I have listened... I will continue to listen"

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Diacope

Back 16

The repetition of a word or phrase after an intervening word or phrase.

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Discourse Markers

Back 17

Guides the reader through topic shifts

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Distinctio

Back 18

An elaboration on a particular meaning of a word in order to prevent any misunderstanding or ambiguity.

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Eponym

Back 19

The substitution of the name of a famous person recognised or famous for a particular attribute, for that attribute.

"You don't need to be Einstein to see that..."

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Expletive

Back 20

A word or short phrase that interrupts normal speech in order to lend emphasis to the words immediately next to it.

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Hyperbole

Back 21

The deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect.

The opposite of MEIOSIS.

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Hypophora

Back 22

A figure of reasoning in which one or more questions or objections are asked or stated and then answered by the speaker.

E.g. Reasoning aloud

"Where's the cat? Oh, he's over there."

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Imperatives

Back 23

Command words

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Juxtaposition

Back 24

Balanced or contrasting phrases

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Litotes

Back 25

A particular form of understatement, which denies the opposite of the word which would otherwise be used.

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Meiosis

Back 26

A deliberate understatement

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Mesodiplosis

Back 27

The repetition of the same words in the middle of successive sentences.

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Metabasis

Back 28

A brief statement of what has been said and what will follow; a kind of transitional summary.

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Metanoia

Back 29

This qualifies a statement by recalling it (or part of it) and expressing it in a better, milder or stronger way.

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Paradox

Back 30

A statement that seems self-contradictory, yet turns out to have a rational meaning.

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Paraleipsis

Back 31

A pretended omission for rhetorical effect.

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Parallelism

Back 32

An arrangement of word, phrases, clauses or larger structures placed side by side, making them similar in form.

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Positive abstract vocabulary

Back 33

Vague, but positive language

"Joy" "Opportunities" "Aspirations"

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Scesis Onomaton

Back 34

A figure of speech which emphasises something by expressing it in a string of generally synonymous phrases or statements. Usually linked by a TRICOLON

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Symploce

Back 35

This repeats the first and last word or words in one phrase or sentence in one or more successive ones.

Combines ANAPHORA and ANTISTROPHE

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Syntactic parallelism

Back 36

Repetition of the same grammatical structure

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Conventional Opening

Back 37

When someone opens a conversation as you might expect

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Conventional Closing

Back 38

When someone closes a conversation as you might expect.

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Co-operative overlap

Back 39

When you cut off someone else who is speaking, and overlap their speech, but for a good reason.

Perhaps used to show agreement or enthusiasm

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Unco-operative overlap

Back 40

When you cut off someone and overlap their speech rudely.

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Completion Point

Back 41

Something that indicates you have finished you turn. It could be silence, or a phrase.

E.g. "That's all, folks!"

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Unfilled pause

Back 42

A short silence in an utterance.

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Prolixity

Back 43

When someone talks too much.

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Locution

Back 44

What you are actually saying

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Illocution

Back 45

Your intended meaning

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Perlocution

Back 46

The perceived meaning by the listener

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Topic shifter

Back 47

A word or phrase that suggests you want to shift the topic of conversation

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Idiom

Back 48

A metaphorical phrase that it used so often it is no longer thought of as a metaphor. These cannot be translated directly into another language.

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Convergence

Back 49

The opposite of divergence. When you try to make your speech more like someone you're speaking to to show that you respect them or are talking at their level.

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Divergence

Back 50

The opposite of convergence. When the speaker diverges from who they are speaking to. Usually to make a point; a child may change their register when talking to an adult to show that they are different to them.

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Echolalia

Back 51

When you direct repeat what someone has said, either as a way of confirming it or expressing disbelief etc.

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Social Marker

Back 52

A language feature that can provide a clue to the social status of the speaker.

Often applied to lower class speakers who drop 'd's and 'g's in speech.

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Stichomythia

Back 53

Fast paced conversation between two people (usually) with short utterances.

Suggests a close relationship between speakers.

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Vague Language

Back 54

Statements that sound imprecise or unassertive

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Utterance

Back 55

An utterance is a complete unit of speech, bounded by a silence.

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Turn-taking

Back 56

A turn is a time during which a single participant speaks, within a typical arrangement in which the participants speak with minimal overlap and gaps between utterances.

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Transactional Talk

Back 57

Language that is used for a specific purpose, or to transmit content or information.

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Tag question

Back 58

A string of words added to a declarative utterance to turn the statement into a question.

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Sociolect

Back 59

A social dialect or variety of speech used by a particular group, such as working-class vs upper-class speech.

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Repairs

Back 60

An alteration that is suggested or made by a speaker, the addressee, or audience in order to correct or clarify a previous utterance.

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Phatic talk

Back 61

Conversational utterances that have no concrete purpose other than to establish or maintain personal relationships.

Related to SMALL TALK - and follows traditional patterns, with stock responses and formulaic expressions.

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Paralinguistic Features

Back 62

Related to body language - the use of gestures, facial expressions and other non-verbal elements to add meaning to the speakers message beyond their words.

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Non-fluency features

Back 63

Typical and normal characteristics of spoken language that interrupt the flow of speech.

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Interactional Talk

Back 64

Language in conversation used for interpersonal reasons / socialising

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Hedge

Back 65

Words or phrases which soften or weaken the forced with which something is said

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Filled pause

Back 66

Items with do not carry conventional meaning but which are inserted into speech to allow time for the speaker to think, to create a pause to hold a turn in conversation.

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Filler

Back 67

Actual words that are used as fillers, but have no actual meaning in the utterance.

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False start

Back 68

This is when the speaker begins an utterance, the stops and either repeats or reformulates it.

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Ellipsis

Back 69

The omission of full words or phrases in a grammatical structure.

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Elision

Back 70

The omission or slurring (eliding) of one or more sounds or syllables.

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Dialect

Back 71

The distinctive grammar and vocabulary which is associated with a regional or social use of a language.

`

Front 72

Deictic

Back 72

Words such as 'this', 'that', 'there' or 'here' which refer backwards or forwards or outside a text.

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Back channel / feedback

Back 73

Words, phrases, and non-verbal utterances used by a listener to give feedback to a speaker that the message if being followed and understood.

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Adjacency Pairs

Back 74

Parallel expressions used across the boundaries of individual speaking turns. They are usually ritualistic and formulaic socially.

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Accent

Back 75

The ways in which words are pronounced. Accent can vary according to the region or social class of a speaker.

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Grice's Maxim of Quantity

Back 76

The assumption that one will talk the right amount; not too much or too little.

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Grice's Maxim of Quality

Back 77

The assumption that one is telling the truth.

Because people generally follow this, they use HEDGING to avoid not telling the truth.

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Grice's Maxim of Manner

Back 78

The assumption that one will talk in a clear and coherent way.

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Grice's Maxim of Relevance

Back 79

The assumption that one will stick to the point and adhere to the topic of the conversation.

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Tannen's theory of speech

Back 80

The difference between male and female speech.

Women tend to discuss emotions, gossip and interact with other whilst not swearing.

Men are more likely to swap stories, give instructions and swear more.

This is called REPORTED SPEECH.

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Lakoff's Politeness Principle

Back 81

Three Laws for politeness in speech:

1). Don't impose - avoid intruding on others' lives.

2). Give options - avoid making the listener feel obligated to do something.

3). Make your addressee feel good - maker other feel appreciated.

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Leech's Politeness Principle

Back 82

Six maxims for politeness:

1). Tact - minimises the cost to the listener and maximises the cost to the speaker.

2). Generosity - minimises the benefit to the speaker and maximises the benefit to the listener.

3). Approbation - minimises depraise to the listener.

4). Modesty - minimises praise of the speaker

5). Agreement - minimises disagreement

6). Sympathy - minimises apathy and maximises sympathy

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Labov's Narrative Structure

Back 83

Six part structure for speech:

1). Abstract - briefly, what is the story about?

2). Orientation - who, what, where, when?

3). Complicating action - then what happened?

4). Evaluation - How and why is this interesting?

5). Result or resolution - what finally happened?

6). Coda - the story is finished.

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Performative Declaratives

Back 84

Where a verb present in a declarative and the verb is suggesting something needs or should be done.

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Referential Speech

Back 85

Providing information

E.g. giving details about an activity or event

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Expressive Speech

Back 86

Conveying and describing feelings

E.g. talking about an exciting party or about being upset

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Positive and Negative Face

Back 87

Positive face : "the want of every member that his wants be desirable to at least some others" or "the positive consistent self-image or 'personality' claimed by interactants"

Negative face: "the want of every 'competent adult member' that his actions be unimpeded by others" or "the basic claim to territories, personal preserves, rights to non-distraction"

Front 88

Face Threatening Acts

Back 88

An act that inherently damages the face of the addressee or the speaker by acting in opposition to the wants and desires of the other.