Vocabulary: Strategies for Vocabulary Learning & Retention (C2) - Lesson 7: Meta-linguistic Awareness: Discussing Language Itself

C2 - Lesson 7: Meta-linguistic Awareness

The Language of Language

At the C2 level, you transition from being a user of English to an analyst of English. This requires meta-linguistic¹ awareness—the ability to think about and discuss language as a system. This skill is essential for teachers, writers, editors, and anyone wishing to understand not just what is being said, but how and why it is being said. This lesson provides the terminology for these sophisticated "conversations about conversation."

1. Vocabulary for Discussing Words & Meaning (Lexis & Semantics)

• Lexis / Lexicon: The total vocabulary of a language, a subject, or a person.
  Ex: "The specialized lexicon of the legal profession can be difficult for outsiders to understand."
• Denotation vs. Connotation: The `denotation` is a word's literal dictionary definition. The `connotation` is its associated emotional and cultural feeling.
  Ex: "The words 'aroma' and 'stench' have a similar denotation (a smell), but their connotations are completely opposite."
• Collocation: The natural and habitual partnership between words.
  Ex: "The phrase 'to conduct research' is a strong collocation in academic English."

2. Vocabulary for Discussing Grammar & Structure (Syntax)

• Syntax: The rules governing the arrangement of words into sentences.
  Ex: "Poets often invert standard syntax to create a specific rhythm or emphasis."
• Register: The level of formality of a text or speech.
  Ex: "The use of slang lowered the register of his speech, making it feel more casual."
• Nominalization: The process of turning verbs and adjectives into nouns to create a more abstract and formal style.
  Ex: "The writer's heavy use of nominalization makes the text authoritative but also quite dense."

3. Vocabulary for Discussing Language & Society (Sociolinguistics)

• Dialect: A form of a language used in a specific region or by a specific social group.
  Ex: "The Khmer language has several regional dialects, such as the one spoken in Battambang."
• Jargon: Specialized terminology used by a particular profession or group.
  Ex: "The doctors' conversation was full of medical jargon that the patient could not understand."
• Code-switching: The practice of alternating between different languages or registers in a single conversation.
  Ex: "The speaker demonstrated great skill in his code-switching between formal academic language and simple, relatable anecdotes."

Discourse in Action: A Linguistics Tutorial

Listen to this exchange between a university professor and a C2-level student analyzing a politician's speech.

Student: "Professor, I'm analyzing the Prime Minister's speech. I noticed his lexis² was quite accessible, but his syntax³ was very sophisticated. He used many complex sentences with multiple subordinate clauses."

Professor: "An excellent observation. And what about the overall register?"

Student: "It was predominantly formal, but he used code-switching very effectively. He would occasionally shift to a more informal register, using simple collocations, which I think was intended to build rapport with the audience."

Professor: "Precisely. Now, think about the connotation of his word choices. For instance, why did he use the word 'investment' to describe public spending, instead of the more neutral term 'expenditure'?"

Student: "Because 'investment' has a positive connotation of future growth, while 'expenditure' just sounds like a cost. It's a deliberate lexical choice to frame the policy in a positive light."

quiz Check Your Understanding

1. The literal, dictionary definition of a word is its...

• a) Connotation
• b) Denotation
• c) Collocation

Click to see the answer

Answer: b) Denotation

2. The study of sentence structure and the arrangement of words is known as...

• a) Lexis
• b) Phonology
• c) Syntax

Click to see the answer

Answer: c) Syntax

3. A speaker begins a formal presentation with academic vocabulary, but then uses some slang to tell a funny personal story. This is an example of...

• a) Code-switching
• b) Nominalization
• c) A dialect

Click to see the answer

Answer: a) Code-switching

edit Your Mission

1. Analyze Connotation: In your own words, explain the difference in connotation between the words `to hide` and `to conceal`. In what context might you choose `to conceal`?
2. The Syntax Detective: Find a very long and complex sentence from a formal English text (e.g., a legal document, an academic paper). Copy it down. Can you identify the main clause?
3. The Meta-Linguistic Challenge: Find a short opinion article from an English newspaper. Write a short paragraph about the language of the article. Your mission is to use at least three meta-linguistic terms from this lesson (e.g., "The author's lexis is highly formal, and their use of nominalization to discuss abstract concepts creates an authoritative register.")

book Lesson Glossary

1. Meta-linguistic (adjective) - Khmer: អភិភាសាវិទ្យា - Relating to language and its relationship to other cultural behaviors; using language to talk about language itself. ↩
2. Lexis (noun) - Khmer: វាក្យសព្ទ - The entire vocabulary of a language or a specific subject. ↩
3. Syntax (noun) - Khmer: វាក្យសម្ព័ន្ធ - The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language. ↩