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Language levels
Lexis and Semantics
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Denotative meaning | The literal meanings of words. |
Connotative meaning | The associated meanings of words. |
Figurative language | Language used in a non-literal way to describe something in another's terms, eg simile or metaphor. |
Semantic fields | Groups of words connected by a shared field of reference, eg medicine, art. |
Synonyms | Words that have equivalent meanings. |
Antonyms | Words that have contrasting meanings. |
Hypernyms | Words that label categories, eg animal (this category includes for example dog, cat and rabbit) |
Hyponyms | Words that can be included in a larger, more general category, eg the hyponyms car, bus, aeroplane as a form of the hypernym transport. |
Occupational register | A technical vocabulary associated with a particular occupation or activity. |
Sociolect | A language style associated with a particular social group. |
Dialect | A language style associated with a particular geographical region. |
Neology | The process of new word formation, including the following: blends, compounds, acronyms, initialisms, eponyms. |
Semantic change | The process of words changing meaning, including the following: narrowing, broadening, amelioration, pejoration, semantic reclamation. |