An abbreviation formed from the initial letters of words and pronounced as a word, e.g. NASA
A word formed combining two or more words to create a new word (meaning is a combination of the two originals)
Introducing a loan word from one language into another
The creation of a new word with the same word class and denotation by dropping one syllable or more (called a truncation) e.g. Thurs, spec, flu.
When speakers switch between more than one language or variety in a situation.
The construction and addition of new words to the word stock
A recognisable group of words that frequently occur together.
An informal word, phrase or pronunciation, often associated with informal speech
A word or phrase (such as this, that, these, those, now, then) that points to the time, place, or situation in which language is being used.
A term to describe words that are formed by adding affixes to create new words eg slow + ness
The use of two negatives (= words that mean "no") in the same phrase or clause.
The omission of part of a sentence that can be understood by the context.
The tone communicated by the use of an exclamation mark.
Used to express strong feelings, strong emphasis or emotion.
Words, usually with no semantic value, which are inserted into speech either from habit or to give a participant thinking time as they search for a word.
A word formed from the first letters of a sequence of words pronounced letter by letter.
When graphic units are associated with words/actions eg emoticons, x etc.
The creation of a word from existing lexical items eg electracy – the skills and facility needed to make full use of the communicative potential of new electronic media.
Language that does not conform to the standard prestige form which is used as a linguistic norm.
Words that are no longer in use.
A style of language used in a particular context defined in terms of mode, tenor and field.
