1. Stretch: Why has language evolved in this way?
Lexical Change
Aim: To investigate how words and the formations of words change over time – and why.
Starter: Look at the following lexis – and sort them into three categories:
forsooth
Gofer
selfie
blog
enow
vodka
zen
remix
thy
Bark (of a ship)
guacamole
Credit crunch
To Google (verb)
ginseng
funk
pyjamas
Borrowed (loan words): taken from another language
Coined:
completely new lexis.
Archaic:
lexis that is no longer in use.
Stretch: Why has language evolved in this way?

2. Call My Bluff…
Pick one of these words which was recently entered into the OED. Find the real definition and write two more “false” definitions of the word and be prepared to present them to the class who will have to guess which definition is the genuine one.
Key Vocabulary:
Neologism:
A neologism is the name given to a relatively new term, word, or phrase that may be in the process of entering common use, but that has not yet been accepted into mainstream language.

3. Key Vocabulary: Neologism:
AO1 Apply appropriate methods of language analysis, using associated terminology and coherent written expression.
Key Vocabulary:
Neologism:
A neologism is the name given to a relatively new term, word, or phrase that may be in the process of entering common use, but that has not yet been accepted into mainstream language.

4. Different types of neologisms – Station 1
Look at the words below and work out how and why they’ve been created. Then think about the implications of each word:
Multimedia
Multimodal
Microwave
Supermarket
Multiracial
Microchip
Ageism
Interact

5. Different types of neologisms – Station 2
Look at the words below and work out how and why they’ve been created. Then think about the implications of each word:
Blackbird
Downplay
Classroom
Laptop
Eyewitness
Headhunter
Backache
Floorboard

6. Different types of neologisms – Station 3
Look at the words below. Try to work out how and why they’ve been created. Then think about the implications of each word:
Oxbridge
Smog
Blog
Webinar
Motel
Ginormous
Emoticon

7. Different types of neologisms – Station 4
Look at the words below. Try to work out how and why they’ve been created. Then think about the implications of each word:
To start/ a start
A bottle/ to bottle
If, but/ No ifs and buts
To contest/ a contest
An eye/ to eye
Up, down/ The ups and downs of life
Open (adj)/ to open
To call/ a call

8. Can you match the term to the definition?
Coinage/neologism
Borrowing/loan words
Compounding
Clipping
Blending
Acronym
Initialism
Affixation
Conversion/functional shift
Eponym
Back formation
A verb created from an existing noun by removing a suffix (i.e. locate from location)
Deliberate creation of a new word. Uncommon
Combined words to create new ones. May be hyphenated, open or solid.
Combination of clipping and combining.
Name of person or company used to define particular objects. E.g. hoover, pasteurise
First letters taken to form a new term. E.g. NATO or FOMO
Free morphemes combined with bound morphemes e.g. regift
Word shifting from one class to another. Usually noun – verb e.g. I googled it.
Shortened words become the norm.
Borrowing of words from other languages. They may be anglicised so they do not ‘look’ like loan words.
First letters taken to form new term but all letters are pronounced e.g. OMG or CD

9. Look at these neologisms (coined words). How were they formed
Look at these neologisms (coined words). How were they formed? What do they suggest about society?
Road rage Blairism Mockney carbicide A ‘domestic’ overshare phubbing (when you ‘snub’ someone by looking at your phone in a social setting) smartwatch unplugged wedding

10. Lexical loss
This image is an extract from Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary (which we will see when we go to his house). How many words do you recognise? Read through Johnson’s definitions – do these words have the same meanings now as they did in 1755? Check with a good dictionary website on your iPad.

11. Lexical loss
This image is an extract from Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary (which we will see when we go to his house). How many words do you recognise? Read through Johnson’s definitions – do these words have the same meanings now as they did in 1755? Check with a good dictionary website on your iPad.

12. Lexical loss
This image is an extract from Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary (which we will see when we go to his house). How many words do you recognise? Read through Johnson’s definitions – do these words have the same meanings now as they did in 1755? Check with a good dictionary website on your iPad.

13. Other language levels…
Do you notice any grammatical differences in Johnson’s defintions? Any spelling differences? Any typographical differences?

14. Homework – Practice Section A answer
Analyse how Text A uses language to create meanings and representations.
Choose one of the extracts from the Dictionary and write a Section A Question 1/2 response.
Remember that you need to discuss BOTH the language levels AND context – language change will come under context.

15. Don’t forget Hudson’s Dimensions of Mode