Language and Understanding

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary characteristic of a specialized text?

Use of poetic language

Prevalence of information-carrying nouns (correct)

Emphasis on expressive function

High frequency of adverbs

What is the purpose of repeating technical terms in scientific language?

To impress the reader with technical jargon

To create a poetic tone

To avoid ambiguity and ensure clarity (correct)

To add variety to the text

What is the term for the phenomenon where a single concept or item is referred to using only one word?

Technical vocabulary

Term density

Linguistic jargon

Mono-referentiality (correct)

What is the effect of high term density on the readability of a text?

It makes the text more difficult to understand (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the use of technical language that is plausible but lacks meaning?

Technobabble (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of technical language that is being parodied in technobabble?

Use of rules to produce technical terms (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of nouns in specialized texts?

To carry information and convey meaning (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the concept that describes the number of technical terms in a text?

Term density (B) Signup and view all the answers

What type of modification is used in the phrase 'panedermic semi-boloid slots'?

Noun phrase with pre- and post-modification (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of creating a new word by combining two existing words, as seen in 'joystick'?

Compounding (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of adding a prefix to a word, as seen in 'non-reversible'?

Affixation (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of creating a new word by adapting an existing word, as seen in 'hypothermia'?

Affixation (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of adopting a word from another language, as seen in 'travail'?

Borrowing (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the density of technical terms in a text, as seen in the passage about the retroprototurboentabulator?

Term density (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the linguistic term for the process of creating a new word by combining an existing word with a prefix or suffix, as seen in 'xenotransplantation'?

Affixoid (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the type of language used in academic writing, as seen in the instructions on slides?

Formal language (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for using specialized terms in a particular domain?

To reduce ambiguity and enable precise communication (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is likely to be the ratio of terms to core vocabulary in specialized texts?

A higher ratio of terms to core vocabulary (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'trichotillomania' literally mean?

Hair pulling or plucking (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of lexical items representing terms in specialized language?

They are non-arbitrary and have a specific meaning (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible interpretation of the same lexical item appearing in different fields?

It fulfills a different terminological job in each case (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of ESP (English for Special Purposes) vocabulary?

Non-arbitrariness and contextual meaning (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using terms with a specific meaning in specialized language?

It reduces ambiguity and enables precise communication (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of terms in specialized language?

They represent one concept and are free of ambiguity (B) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Term Density and Specialized Language

The higher the density of terms in a text, the more specialized and difficult to understand it will be for the lay reader.
The more terms used, the less likely the reader is to understand the text.
Technical language uses plausible and rule-based techniques to create new terms, making it difficult to distinguish between real and fake technical language.

Characteristics of Specialized Texts

High number of terms and noun density (more information-carrying nouns than other parts of speech)
Repetition of terms is common to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity
Mono-referentiality: using a single word to refer to a concept or item, without synonyms

Terminology Centrality

Terminology is central to specialized discourse, and its importance should be appreciated
In scientific language, terms are used to convey specific meanings and concepts

Word Formation Mechanisms

Examples of word formation mechanisms:
- Trichotillomania: derivation from Greek roots and suffix
- Hypothermia: affixation
- Ozone layer: compounding
- Travail: borrowing
- Xenotransplantation: affixation
- Joystick, gamepad, joypad: borrowing

Lexical Features of ESP

Non-arbitrariness: terms are chosen based on reasons and enable understanding of components
Terms can have different meanings across different fields
Lexical items can represent different terminological concepts in different fields

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores the relationship between language, understanding, and specialized texts. It discusses the role of density of terms and the impact on reader comprehension.