Derivatives
A word formed from another word or base (e.g. using prefixes or suffixes).
Euphemism
The substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that
may offend or suggest something unpleasant.
(Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Tenth Edition. S.v.)
Metalingual
Dealing with language and the relationship of language and other factor
e.g. culture.
Sappho (around 600
BCE)
This poetess from ancient
Greek mythology lived on the island of Lesbos. She gathered young girls
in her school, devoted to the goddess Aphrodite and the Muses, which led
to the assumption that female homosexuality had been promoted in her
school. Supposedly Sappho committed suicide because of the unrequited
love for a young man.
Semantic change
A change of a word's meaning, e.g. extension of meaning, narrowing of
meaning, a positive or ameliorative development, a negative pejorative
development, metonymies, metaphors and many more.
Slang
A vocuabulary on a low stylistic level, very much group specific in
development and proliferation. It expresses an emphasis on a relaxed and
often ironic attitude of the speaker.
Sociolect
A variety of a language which is used by a specific social group and has
certain idiosyncrasies with regard to its pronunciation, morphology,
syntax and vocabulary.
Standard
variety
A certain variety of a language which bridges the regional varieties and
works as a national variety. Mostly it has a lot of social prestige
because the so-called educated speakers use it. It is the language used
most frequently on TV and in the other media. It is the basis for
foreign language courses in that language.
Style shift
Switching from one level of style to another. A style is a
characteristic of a text (written or verbal), which results out of the
constellation of the speaker, hearer, the topic and context and the
speaker's attitude towards these. Formal, informal and neutral are
examples of style levels which a person can apply.
Taboo
In Polynesian tapu means `sacredŽ and means certain laws
and rules in society. (Brockhaus Multimedia 2002. Bibliographisches Institut & F.A.
Brockhaus AG, 2002.)