Language change: semantic change

?
  • Created by: EC
  • Created on: 11-04-13 14:50
a word's meaning
semantic
1 of 13
when a word develops a more positive meaning. e.g. 'terrible/terribly'
amelioration
2 of 13
when a word develops a negative meaning
pejoration
3 of 13
when a word makes less of an impact than it used to. e.g. 'glad'
weakening
4 of 13
a word that had developed a broader meaning
broadening
5 of 13
a word can develop a narrower meaning
narrowing
6 of 13
has a purpose of removing words and phrases with negative connotations
political correctness
7 of 13
endings with -ess, -ette, which are no longer used in many cases
trivialising suffixes
8 of 13
describes things as if they were actually something else
metaphor
9 of 13
using a word associated with an object rather than its actual name. e.g. cash used to mean moneybox
metonymy
10 of 13
sayings that don't make sense when literally interpretted 'it's raining cats and dogs'
idiom
11 of 13
alternative words or phrases to avoid offending someone or making it less unpleasant
euphemism
12 of 13
when idioms are used a lot, failing to excite the imagionation
cliche
13 of 13

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

when a word develops a more positive meaning. e.g. 'terrible/terribly'

Back

amelioration

Card 3

Front

when a word develops a negative meaning

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

when a word makes less of an impact than it used to. e.g. 'glad'

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

a word that had developed a broader meaning

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar English Language resources:

See all English Language resources »