Lexis

Lexis and Language Diversity

Introduction to Lexis

  • Lexis refers to the vocabulary of a language, including words and phrases.
  • Lexis is one part of the language system, along with grammar, phonology and semantics.

Dialectal Lexical Differences

  • There are often lexical differences between regional dialects of the same language, for example ‘bap’, ‘roll’, ‘bun’, and ‘cob’ all refer to the same type of bread product in different parts of the UK.
  • This can also be seen in the difference between British and American English, where we find ‘lift’ vs ‘elevator’, ‘biscuit’ vs ‘cookie’, and ‘petrol’ vs ‘gasoline’.

Slang

  • Slang is a form of lexis that is informal and often specific to certain social groups.
  • It can vary greatly between different groups and locations, and is often used to reinforce social bonds or group identity.

Jargon and Terminology

  • Certain fields or professions have their own specific set of lexis known as jargon or terminology.
  • This can include legal jargon (like ‘habeas corpus’), medical terminology (‘endoscopy’), or technological terms (‘bandwidth’).

Borrowing and Language Change

  • English is a language with a rich history of borrowing lexis from other languages, such as ‘parka’ from the Nenets language of Russia, ‘safari’ from Swahili, or ‘cuisine’ from French.
  • This borrowing can be the result of trade, conquest, or cultural exchange, and helps contribute to the richness and diversity of the English lexicon.

Impact of Technology

  • The advent of digital technology has also greatly influenced the lexis of English language. The internet, text messaging and social media have given rise to a whole new range of words and phrases such as ‘selfie’, ‘tweet’ or ‘vlog’.
  • This form of language is often informal, creative and rapidly changing, reflecting the fast-paced nature of the digital world.

Understanding the diversity of lexis in English, from slang and dialect terms to professional jargon and internet lingo, can give us great insight into linguistic diversity and how language can reflect and shape social identities and relationships.