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Let's test our understanding of the terms we have learned today.

Task

On your tables, how many word classes can you think of?

AQA Language and Literature

Lexis and Semantics

Let's re-cap word classes.

Definitions

Find and Explain

In pairs, examine the short extract on your desk.

How many different word classes can you find?

Be prepared to explain their function in the text.

It was a very slow game.

He ran quickly

They were incredibly well organised.

Fixed Expressions

With your shoulder partner, try to answer the following questions?

You should have heard the term lexis before but what does it mean?

Semantics may be new to you. However, could you try to work out what it means?

Denotation and Connotation

Words are signs and signs have different layers of meaning:

  • denotation is the most literal meaning: e.g. Rose may signify a specific genus of flower.
  • connotation refers to the ideas that this word/sign makes you then think of: e.g. an emblem of England, romance, St Valentine's Day, perhaps a woman you know, the french word for pink...

Definitions

Lexis is a synonym for vocabulary and it is this term we use in linguistics.

Semantics refers to the meanings of words and phrases.

These are phrases that are well used, vary little when used and their meaning changes little: e.g. It was a storm in a teacup.

Can you think of any other fixed expressions, idiomatic or otherwise?

Semantics

What do you think of when you see this lexeme (word)?

Euphemism

Rose

This is a socially acceptable word or phrase that is used in place of a potentially offensive one.

Again, can you think of any other euphemisms?

Dysphemism

These are the opposite of euphemisms: they are direct, blunt and sometimes taboo.

You know what's coming now: list a few dysphemisms.

Connotations

Denottions are generally agreed by most readers. However, connotations may be deeply personal because it's what the sign makes you, the reader, think.

What connotations do the following make you think of?

  • Home
  • Beauty
  • England

What language feature is this? Why is it being used?

Key Terms

Semantic field refers to a group of words that have broadly the same meaning: e.g. dark, shadowy, caliginous, dingy and dungy.

Can you find words in the semantic fields of the following?

  • Love
  • Building
  • Beautiful

Be prepared to provide definitions for the terms that I call out.

Discussion

Representation

These are words that are often found near each other in a text. Look at the morpheme (locate/locat) in each; this helps the reader to deduce its meaning. For example, 'waste' is often preceded or followed by 'of money', 'of resources', 'of talent', 'of time'.

What collocates can you think of for:

  • love
  • hate
  • house

1. Why do we have a range of different words for broadly the same things?

2. Why do we use fixed expressions so much?

3. Why is it that some words and phrases are considered taboo?

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