Metalanguage Glossary Essay

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Metalanguage Glossary * Colloquialism Colloquialisms are words used in everyday writing or speech, eg dunny for toilet. * Euphemism Euphemisms are words used to express an idea in a polite manner, eg restroom for toilet. * Jargon Jargon is words that are specific to a subject or occupation eg volley in tennis, bytes in information technology. * Puns Puns are play on words, that is, the use of one word to suggest different meanings. The following example plays on the word ‘pupil’ and in the context of a teacher needing glasses. “Why did the teacher need glasses? Because he couldn’t control his pupils.” The word ‘pupil’ has two meanings. * Slang Slang is words that are not accepted in formal spoken or written English, eg Barbie for Barbecue. * Metaphors Metaphors are where words or images stand for other words or images. A metaphor can be used to make comparisons, that is, saying that one image is another image, eg The boy is angry bear wandering in the wilderness. * Similes Similes are comparisons that use “like” or, “as”, eg the girl was as pretty as a picture. Similes are used to create visual images. * Rhyme Rhyme is where a word or words at the end of a line have a similar sound, eg “Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow, And everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go.” The words “snow” and “go” rhyme. * Repetition Repetition of words or phrases is often used in poems and songs. This is used for emphasis. * Figurative language Figurative language is used to create an image in a person’s mind through their imagination. The images may appeal to one or more of our senses, that is visual (sight), aural (sound), oral (taste), tactile (touch) and olfactory (smell). For instance, the sweet of a rose, the soft feel of her cheek and the sunshine reflecting off the water.

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