English Language Change Key Terms

Key terms for lexical and semantic change in the English Language

?
  • Created by: Kate
  • Created on: 06-01-12 16:25
The development of Standard English over a period of time
Standardisation
1 of 19
Words or phrases that are no longer used or have gone out of fashion e.g. We now call 'Wireless' 'Radio'
Archaism
2 of 19
When a word develops a more positive meaning e.g. 'wicked' or 'sick'
Amelioration
3 of 19
When a word develops a negative meaning e.g. 'gay'
Pejoration
4 of 19
When words lose their original force e.g. 'soon' is now seen as any length of time
Weakening
5 of 19
When the meaning of a word grows to include more things, e.g. 'holiday' was once only used for holy days.
Broadening
6 of 19
When the meaning of a word becomes more specific e.g. 'mete' used to refer to food in general, whereas now 'meat' means only one type
Narrowing
7 of 19
Phrases that when said literally, make no sense 'over the moon' or 'under the thumb'
Idiom
8 of 19
When alternative words and phrases are used to make something more pleasant e.g. 'kicking the bucket'
Euphemism
9 of 19
Overused phrases and words e.g. 'at the end of the day'
Cliche
10 of 19
Words which are taken from other languages
Borrowing
11 of 19
The creation of a new word, usually through fictional authors
Coinage
12 of 19
Adding prefixes and suffixes to existing words to form new ones e.g. 'Euphem(ism)'
Affixation
13 of 19
When two words combine to make a new word, sometimes hyphonated e.g. 'blackbird'
Compounding
14 of 19
When two parts of words are combined to make a new one e.g. 'smog'
Blend
15 of 19
When the word class of a word changes e.g. a noun to a verb... 'bottle' becomes 'to bottle'
Conversion
16 of 19
When a new word is formed by shortening a word e.g. 'ad' for 'advert'
Abbreviation
17 of 19
Words formed by the initial letters of words e.g. 'NASA' or 'PLO'
Acronym
18 of 19
When a word comes from names e.g. 'sandwich' or 'hoover'
Eponym
19 of 19

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Words or phrases that are no longer used or have gone out of fashion e.g. We now call 'Wireless' 'Radio'

Back

Archaism

Card 3

Front

When a word develops a more positive meaning e.g. 'wicked' or 'sick'

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

When a word develops a negative meaning e.g. 'gay'

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

When words lose their original force e.g. 'soon' is now seen as any length of time

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

Bethany

Report

Really helpful, thanks! :)

Elizabeth Clark

Report

Question 19 is actually called clipping as well and more commonly called this just in case u wanted the correct, more commonly used word :) but really gooooood !!!

the ***** man

Report

100% GET IN!

Saito-Kun

Report

Q12: 'Offensive', not 'Offencive'.

elaine thawley

Report

Wireless is not an archaism just a word which may be unfamiliar to a modern audience

Ly Lau

Report

100%! Thank you for the quizz :)

Similar English Language resources:

See all English Language resources »