Related concepts (examples) flashcards

Topic 2: Related concepts (examples)

Which related concepts does the brief give as examples for language acquisition?

Word choice, conventions and idiom. Related concepts are grounded in the subject and deepen the key concepts; your teacher may use others from the full guide.

What is word choice, and how do you make good word choices?

Picking words for register, connotation and precision. Identify the audience and purpose, set the register (including the right form of "you"), replace vague words with precise ones, check connotation and watch for false friends.

What are conventions?

The expected rules of a text type or exchange — its layout, openings, closings and typical language, such as the correct opening and closing of a formal email.

What is an idiom?

A fixed phrase whose meaning is not the sum of its words, such as the Spanish tomar el pelo ("to tease", literally "to take the hair").

What conventions does a formal email need?

Subject line, formal greeting, paragraphs, a polite sign-off formula with a request for reply, and your name and role. Formal register, often opening "I am writing to…".

Blog post versus article: conventions

Blog post: title, date, author, short paragraphs, semi-formal to informal, ending with a question or call for comments. Article: headline, byline, optional subheading, semi-formal to formal, ending by returning to the headline idea.

What are format signals?

Visible layout cues (subject line, headline, date, headings) that identify a text type before a word is read.

Denotation versus connotation in a multimodal text

Denotation: what is literally shown or heard. Connotation: what a detail suggests or makes you feel.