Chapter 4: Key Terms

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abbreviation

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A shortened form of a word or phrase created by omitting parts of it

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abstract

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Refers to words that relate to ideas or concepts that exist only in your mind and do not represent a tangible object

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accent

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Word pronunciation or sound. When a dialect has a different phonology from our own, we tend to perceive the people who speak it as having an accent.

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acronym

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An abbreviation that consists of letters that form a word, e.g., the word laser is an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation"

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bias

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An attitude that is not objective or balanced, prejudiced, or the use of words that intentionally or unintentionally offend people or express an unfair attitude concerning a person's race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or illness

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buzz word

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Informal word or jargon used among a particular group of people

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cliché

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Expression that has been so overused that it has lost its original meaning.

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colloquialism

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Informal expression used in casual conversation that is often specific to certain dialects or geographic regions of a country

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concrete

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Refers to words that have a referent or corresponding person or object that you can see, touch, or otherwise experience with your physical senses

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connotation

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What a word suggests or implies; connotations give words their emotional impact

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de facto language

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A language that may not be recognized legally but exists in reality or in fact

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denotation

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The dictionary definition or descriptive meaning of a word

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dialect

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A variety of a language that is spoken in a geographic or social group of people that differs in grammar, pronunciation, and structure from others' use of the same language

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diction

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The way you pronounce words

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discourse

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Spoken or written discussion of a subject

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formal language

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Speech or written expression that is more careful and more mannered than everyday speech and is used in the academic world and most professional workplaces

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heuristic function

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The use of language to explore and investigate the world, solve problems, and learn from your discoveries and experiences

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idiom

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Expression or figure of speech whose meaning cannot be understood by looking at the individual words and interpreting them literally

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imaginative function

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The use of language to play with ideas that do not exist in the real world

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informal language

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Speech or written expression that is common or nonstandard and is not always appropriate in academic and professional speech or written communication

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instrumental function

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The use of language as a means for meeting your needs, manipulating and controlling your environment, and expressing your feelings

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interactional function

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The use of language to help you form and maintain relationships

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jargon

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The specialized or technical language of a specific group or profession that may not be understood by outsiders

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language

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A system of human communication using a particular form of spoken or written words or other symbols

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metamessage

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The meaning beyond the words themselves

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nonverbal

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Tone of voice, posture, facial expression, gestures, or other physical behavior that communicates a message

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objective

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Based only on facts and not influenced by personal feelings or beliefs

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personal function

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The use of language to help you form your identity or sense of self

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phonology

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The sound of a particular language or dialect

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racist language

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Language that demeans or insults people on the basis of their race or ethnicity

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referent

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The idea or object that a word denotes or stands for

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regulatory function

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The use of language to control behavior

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representational function

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The use of language to represent objects and ideas and to express your thoughts

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ritual function

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The use of language that is like good manners and helps you maintain social connections and relationships

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sexist language

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Language that excludes individuals on the basis of gender or shows bias toward or against people due to their gender

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slang

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The nonstandard language of a particular culture or subculture

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spin

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The manipulation of language to achieve the most positive interpretation of words, to gain political advantage, or to deceive others

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Standard American English

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The version of American English that is spoken among well-educated professionals, taught in American schools, and used in oral and written workplace communication

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synonym

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A word that has the same denotative meaning as another word

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thesaurus

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A book that contains lists of words that have similar denotative meanings

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trigger words

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Words that create an immediate emotional reaction when you hear them

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verbal

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Consisting of words, in either oral or written form

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vernacular

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A variety of language used by speakers in informal situations