Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
22 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
|
Widening
|
Semantic change that widens the range of meanings so that a word can be used in more contexts than previously appropriate
(generalization, extension, broadening) |
ex. "dog" originally referred to a specific powerful breed of dog, which was eventually generalized into all breeds or races of dogs
|
|
|
Narrowing
|
Range of meaning decreased, can be used in fewer contexts.
(specialization, restriction) |
ex. "meat" originally meant food in general, and eventually became specifically "food of the flesh"
|
|
|
Metaphor
|
Understanding or experience of one kind of thing thought to be similar in some way. "A is like B"
Semantically, metaphors involve extensions in the meaning of a word that suggests semantic similarity or connection between the new sense and the original one. -metaphors are a major factor in phonetic change. |
ex. "bead" originally meant prayer, then was used for a rosary bead, which in turn produced the current meaning.
ex. 2: He is like a "stud". Originally a horse used for breeding eventually meant good looking sexy, man. |
|
|
Metonymy
|
Change in meaning of a word so it comes to include additional senses which were not originally present, but which are closely related to the words original meaning.
"Conceptual shifts within the semantic domain" |
ex. "tea" means, in addition tot he drink "the evening meal"
|
|
|
Synechdoche
|
A term with a more comprehensive(including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something) meaning is used to refer to a less comprehensive meaning, and visa versa.
(type of metonymy) |
ex. "hand" refers to a "hired hand"
"moon"="month" "sun"="day" |
|
|
Displacement (ellipses)
|
Involves changes where one word absorbs part or all of the meaning of another word with which it is linked in a phrasal constituent.
|
ex. "contact"< contact lenses
"capital"< capital city "intercourse" < sexual intercourse |
|
|
Degeneration (pejoration)
|
Sense of a word takes on a less positive and more negative evaluation in the minds of users.
|
ex. "mistress" was originally a woman who rules over and has control.
"silly" < 'sely': happy, innocent, pitiable |
|
|
Elevation (amelioration)
|
Movement towards a more positive judgement.
|
ex. "pretty" < crafty, sly
"fond" < foolish, silly |
|
|
Taboo replacement and avoidance of obscenity
|
As the title states.
|
ex. "cock" no longer used for rooster
|
|
|
Hyperbole
|
The use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally.
|
Very: horribly, awfully (nothing to do with awe)
Lame: (stupid, awkward, socially inept) came from 'crippled, having an impaired limb' |
|
|
Litotes(understatement)
|
Exaggeration by understatement.
|
ex. 'No small importance' when 'very important' is actually meant
'kill' initially meant to hit, but would actually mean KILL 'Inhale': to eat something fast < to breathe in |
|
|
Semantic shift due to contact
|
pave=peacock
BUT pavo=turkey in the new world Eventually peacock=pavo real (royal turkey) |
|
|
|
Polysemy
|
Stage where a word has more than one meaning and eventually/probably shifts into the other word.
|
|
|
|
New words
|
Root creations: creations from nothing
|
ex. blurb, paraffin
-often from greek/latin OR zilch, pazazz From personal names of people: ex. Guillotine From place names: ex. Jeans < Genoa (twilled cotton cloth) Canary < Canary Islands Peach < Persia (persian apple) |
|
|
Creation from brand/trade names
|
ex. Jell-o
kleenex |
|
|
|
Acronyms
|
Words derived from initial letters or syllables of each of the successive parts of a compound word or term.
|
|
|
|
Compounding
|
Compound words formed from pieces (or units) that are (or were) themselves distinct words.
|
ex. cyberbullying
allnighter Neo-classical compounds: productively employing various derivational affixes ex. bank-able, bill-able |
|
|
Amalgamation
|
Forms that were previously composed of more than one free form word. (which occurred in the same phrase)
|
ex. nevertheless
|
|
|
Clipping (compression, shortening)
|
Shortening of longer words.
|
ex. ad < advertisement
fan < fanatic |
|
|
Onomatopoeia (expressive creation)
|
A word that phonetically imitates, resembles or suggests the source of the sound that it describes.
|
ex. buzz, gag
|
|
|
Interjections
|
Ah, oh, wow.
|
|
|
|
Obsolescence and loss of vocab
|
Words that disappear in language.
|
|
