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ELL Glossary - Amber
A-Level English Lang & Lit Glossary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Active Listening | Using words, non-veral utterances or gestures to encourage a speaker to continue and to assure the speaker of the listener's attention. |
Anecdotal | Relating to anecdotes or stories, often used as an example to make a particular point. |
Ambiguity | Uncertainty of definition or meaning; the possibility of two or more readings of a word or text. |
Archaic | A word or phrase no longer in current use. |
Binary opposition | Any paired opposition which involves two concepts which are the reverse of each other, as in darkness and light, sound and silence. |
Auxillary verbs | A verb that helps (usually precedes) another verb, e.g. I can go. |
Cliche | Expression so often used that it becomes overfamiliar and predictable, and is hence seen to be unoriginal. |
Euphemism | The use of another word or phrase in place of one considered to be rude or inappropriate for the circumstance; i.e. 'fell asleep' for 'died' |
Expletive | An exclamation which is generally transgressive, a curse or swear word. |
Double negative | A structure in which more than one negative is used, e.g. |
Elision | The ommision of a vowel, consonant or syllable in pronunciation, i.e. 'o'er the bridge' |
Foregrounding | A change in the structure of the sentence to place emphasis on an opening sentence element. |
Juxtaposition | The placing of two things close together, generally to create a deliberate contrast. |
Non-sequitur | An utterance which does not answer teh previous conversation turn, but seems to start another topic completely, an irrelevance. |
Phatic | Casual language, designed to fill space in a conversation. Has no serious purpose, e.g. comments about the weather. |
Phonetic | A word that is spelt with an imitation of how to pronounce it rather than with its traditional spelling. For instance, 'giv' is a phonetic spelling of 'give'. |
Semantic field | Group of words which suggest a certain context or mood when used in close proximity. |
Syntax | Word order; the logical arrangement of words in a sentence which can shift meaning. |
Utterance | A complete unit of speech. |
Symbolism | A device in which a word or phrase represents something else. |
Convergence | Where a speaker takes on some of the idiolectical aspects of another speaker. This could be replicating accent or repeating particular words. |
Hedge | A stalling technique to make an utterance more tentative. Often used to make a statement less direct or to soften in some way. e.g. Could you possibly buy this magazine for me? |
Interruptions | Tells you something about the relationship and status of the two characters. Is the speaker excited or rude or trying to re-gain control of the conversation? |