Geographical Variations of English
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Questions and Answers

What is an example of a grammatical variant with changes in morphology?

  • cut a sad figure
  • sell like hot cakes
  • the bitter bitten (correct)
  • pay lip-service

Which of the following represents a semantic relation within idiomatic expressions?

  • to a tee
  • air and grace
  • run amok
  • where there's smoke, there's fire (correct)

What distinguishes geographical variants in English idioms?

  • They are exclusively used in written form.
  • They have different meanings in different cultures.
  • They are preferred in specific English-speaking regions. (correct)
  • They utilize different morphological structures.

Which of the following is an example of an orthographic variant?

<p>pay lip service (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of variant includes expressions with optional parts?

<p>quantitative variants (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes words that are joined together without spaces?

<p>Closed compounds (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an open compound?

<p>Middle class (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following defines a 'platitude'?

<p>A remark that has become meaningless due to overuse (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a 'maxim' from other sayings?

<p>It expresses a rule for behavior or principle (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is typically used interchangeably with 'proverb'?

<p>Saying (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a 'truism'?

<p>To state an obvious fact (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines an 'adage'?

<p>A widely known and accepted saying (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a hyphenated compound?

<p>Half-sister (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following idioms is considered a formal idiom?

<p>fall prey to sb/sth (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of idiom is 'be my guest' classified as?

<p>Informal (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which idiom has a derogatory connotation?

<p>mutton dressed (up) as lamb (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a very informal idiom?

<p>take a leak (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

An example of a euphemistic idiom is:

<p>be economical with the truth (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which idiom is considered humorous?

<p>have a bun in the oven (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are idioms that are often used in a different form for stylistic exploitation seen in?

<p>Fiction and mass media (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which idiom is identified as old-fashioned?

<p>give up the ghost (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which idiom means to have complete control over someone?

<p>Call the tune (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Identify an example of synonymous idioms.

<p>Be rolling in it - have money to burn (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which pair of idioms represents antonyms?

<p>Swim with the tide - swim against the tide (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an idiomatic cluster?

<p>A series of idioms that share a common lexical component (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which idiomatic expression indicates a very informal context?

<p>Stop/shut one's mouth (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the idiom 'on the up and up'?

<p>To be progressing positively (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which idiomatic expression is an example of homonymy?

<p>Lose one's nerve - lose one's nerves (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following expressions can be classified as a vulgar idiom?

<p>Not give/care a fuck (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a birthing room?

<p>To provide a relaxed environment for labor and childbirth (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'frontliner' refer to?

<p>An essential worker with in-person interaction (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'physical distancing'?

<p>Maintaining a certain distance to limit contact (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'futzing' imply?

<p>Wasting time aimlessly (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following definitions is correct for 'self-isolated'?

<p>Isolating oneself from others (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a major focus of Albert Sydney Hornby's work on dictionaries?

<p>Simplifying explanations for English learners (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant change did the Collins dictionary introduce in 1979?

<p>An intermediate learner’s dictionary (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'deprioritize' mean?

<p>To treat something of lowest importance (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of idioms are considered identical between American and British English?

<p>Idioms that have the same form and meaning (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process is described as the most productive word-formation process?

<p>Compounding (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a minor meaning of the word 'hand'?

<p>Hand of a clock (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of idioms does Australian English include?

<p>Both British and American idioms and its own (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of suffixation as a word-formation process?

<p>It is the most productive word-formation process (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of affixation?

<p>Self-isolated (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of meanings, what defines the dominant meaning of a word?

<p>A meaning that is equally representative and clear in isolation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pairs represents a grammatical variant of an idiom?

<p>Head of the table and head at the table (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Grammatical Variants

Changes in the grammatical structure of an idiom, such as verb tense or word order.

Lexical Variants

Variations in the words used in an idiom, often involving synonyms or related terms.

Orthographic Variants

Changes in the spelling or writing of an idiom, often due to its increasing use and fixation in language.

Quantitative Variants

Variations in the number of optional parts or phrases within an idiom, affecting its length or complexity.

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Complex Variants

Variations in an idiom that involve multiple types of changes, such as grammatical, lexical, or orthographic variations.

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Closed Compound

Two words combined closely without a space, creating a new word, e.g., 'sun', and 'flower' become 'sunflower'.

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Open Compound

Two separate words with a space, read together to form a new meaning, e.g., 'middle' and 'class' become 'middle class'.

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Hyphenated Compound

Two words joined by a hyphen, creating a new word, e.g., 'well' and 'being' become 'well-being'.

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Proverb

A short saying, usually known by many people for a long time, that gives advice or expresses a common truth, e.g., 'The early bird catches the worm'.

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Saying

A well-known wise statement, often with a meaning different from the simple meanings of the words, e.g., 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch'.

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Adage

A wise saying or proverb, e.g., 'Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise'.

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Saw

A short sentence stating something generally thought to be true or giving advice, e.g., 'A stitch in time saves nine'.

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Maxim

A short statement of a general truth, principle, or rule for behavior, e.g., 'Treat others as you would like to be treated'.

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Formal idiom

An idiom used in a more formal setting, like official documents or serious speeches.

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Informal idiom

An idiom used in casual conversations or informal writing.

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Literary idiom

An idiom used rarely, often in literature or historical texts.

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Foreign idiom

An idiom borrowed from another language.

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Derogatory idiom

An idiom used to express a negative or insulting opinion.

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Euphemistic idiom

An idiom used to make something seem less harsh or unpleasant.

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Humorous idiom

An idiom used to create a humorous effect.

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Ironic idiom

An idiom used to express the opposite meaning of what is said.

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Synonymous Idioms

Idioms that have the same or very similar meanings, like 'be rolling in it' and 'have money to burn.'

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Antonymous Idioms

Idioms that have opposite meanings, like 'swim with the tide' and 'swim against the tide.'

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Formal Relations and Grouping

Idioms that are grouped together based on shared formal elements, such as the same grammatical structure or a common lexical component.

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Homonymy

Words or phrases that have the same form (spelling and pronunciation) but different meanings and origins, like 'on the up and up' in British and American English.

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Idiomatic Paronyms

Idioms that are similar in form but have different meanings, like 'lose heart' and 'lose one's heart.'

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Idiomatic Clusters (Families)

Groups of idioms that share a common lexical component, like 'give sb a black eye,' 'the black sheep,' and 'black mark,' all using the word 'black.'

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Idiomatic Frames

Groups of idioms that share a similar grammatical structure and may have a common lexical component, like 'hit the bottle,' 'hit the road,' and 'hit the jackpot,' all using the structure 'V + the + N.'

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Mouthie

A phrase used to describe a person who is excessively talkative.

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Deprioritize

To treat something as being of the lowest importance, to give something low priority.

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Physical distancing

The practice of keeping a safe distance from others to reduce the spread of illness or disease.

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Suicide belt

A belt fitted with explosives used by a suicide bomber.

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Birthing room

A room designed for labor and childbirth, designed to provide a relaxed and comfortable environment.

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Frontliner

A worker who is essential to the functioning of society during a crisis or emergency, often requiring face-to-face interactions and potential risk.

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Futzing

To waste time or engage in aimless activity.

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Idiom

An expression with a meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words.

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Identical Idioms (BrE & AmE)

Identical idioms are phrases that have the same meaning and structure in both British and American English. They are used in the same way and with the same understanding in both varieties.

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Different Idioms (BrE & AmE)

Different idioms are those that have different meanings or structures in British and American English. They may express the same concept but use different words or grammatical structures.

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Partially Different Idioms (BrE & AmE)

Partially different idioms are those that have slight variations in spelling, grammar, or word choice between British and American English. The meaning remains similar but might have subtle differences.

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Dominant Meaning

Dominant meaning refers to the most common and immediately understood meaning of a word or phrase. It's the primary interpretation that comes to mind without any specific context.

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Minor Meaning

Minor meaning refers to a less common or specialized meaning of a word or phrase that requires context to be understood fully.

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Compounding

Compounding is a word-formation process that combines two or more words to create a new word with a new meaning. It's a highly productive process, especially for nouns.

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Suffixation

Suffixation is a word-formation process that adds suffixes to words to create new words with new meanings or grammatical functions. It's one of the most productive word-formation processes.

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Prefixation

Prefixation is a word-formation process that adds prefixes to words to create new words with new meanings. It's another productive word-formation process.

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Study Notes

Geographical Variations of English

  • The national language of the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
  • An official or semi-official language of communication in many other countries
  • Regional variations exist, particularly in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar

Standard English and Geographical Varieties

  • Standard English (General English or Mainstream English) has a widely accepted codified grammar and vocabulary
  • It is the variety normally used in writing and spoken by educated speakers
  • Regional variants and local dialects, such as British English and American English, are common

Lexical Differences in Geographical Varieties

  • Different countries exhibit unique vocabulary, reflecting localized usage
  • For example, Australian English has words like "crook" (bad), "arvo" (afternoon), and "dinkum" (genuine); and Canadian English uses "pogey" (dole), "tuque" (cap)

Welsh, Scottish, and Irish English

  • Scottish English, Irish English and Welsh English show less distinct regional variations and less institutionalization
  • They may use their own unique words or expressions

Compounds

  • Endocentric compounds: include both the determinant and determinatum, like "ashtray"
  • Exocentric compounds: do not include the determinatum, like "hangover"
  • Dvandva compounds: combine two independent entities, like "Coca-Cola"
  • Bahuvrihi compounds: name something based on a striking characteristic, like "black-shirt" or "white collar".

Proverbs and Sayings

  • Proverbs and sayings often have socio-cultural value
  • Their meanings are frequently overlapping

Stylistic Classification of Idioms

  • Idioms can be classified by formality
  • Informal idioms are common in informal contexts
  • Formal idioms are better suited for serious, official or literary settings

Emotionally Colored Idioms

  • Idioms can reflect different emotions or attitudes, such as derogatory, humorous or ironic
  • These stylistic differences often depend on the context in which they're used and the overall communicative style.

Variations in Idioms

  • Idioms may have variations in terms of their spelling, grammar, or use of different words
  • The complete disentegration of an idiom could happen if the lexical components are separated

Polysemy of English Words

  • Polysemy describes a word or phrase having multiple related meanings
  • The context is key in determining the specific meaning
  • Words in English often have multiple meanings and this is a common feature of language evolution.
  • Compounding is a productive word-formation process, common in creating new nouns
  • Affixation, including prefixes and suffixes, is also a productive word-formation process in English

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Geographical Variations of English PDF

Description

Explore the differences in English language usage across various countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. This quiz will test your knowledge on standard English and its regional variations, including dialects and unique vocabulary. Understand how geography influences language.

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