Understanding Language and Literature: Key Concepts and Terms
Understanding Language and Literature
Key Concepts and Terms
Semantics
The set of words that share a common meaning. Each word also has its own unique meaning that distinguishes it from others.
Copula
Has no lexical meaning.
Verbs Predicate
Provide information on the subject.
Consistent
Ideas are related to each other and form a meaningful unit.
Theme
Ideas must be related to a common theme, as expressed in the title, which brings unity to the text.
Organization
Ideas should be presented in a logical order, following a structure.
Story
A short narrative with essential elements: a few characters, a setting, and one indeterminate history. It generally begins with an interesting fact and concludes with a surprising ending.
Story Features
- Brevity: The story is short.
- Single Story: The writer focuses on one story, removing unrelated events.
- Few Characters: Only essential characters are used.
- Indeterminacy: The time of the story is unspecified.
- Intrigue and Surprise: The text starts with an interesting fact (plot) and ends with a twist (surprise ending).
Attribute
Complements linking verbs that present a quality or attribute of the subject.
Predicate
The verbal complement affecting the subject, used with a non-copulative verb.
Tilde Diacritics
Differentiate words with the same spelling but belonging to different grammatical categories.
Characteristics of Folktales
- Anonymous: The author is unknown.
- Transmission: Passed down through generations.
- Prototypical Characters: Characters represent general types.
- Simple Style: Straightforward language and intent.
- Didactic Structure: The story teaches a moral lesson.
Novel
A popular narrative subgenre, more extensive than a short story.
Features of Literary Tales
- Known Author: The writer is identified.
- Written Transmission: Spread through printed books.
- Realistic Characters: Taken from everyday life.
- Complex Narrative Style: More elaborate language and structure.
- Recreational Function: Intended for entertainment.
Polysemous Words
Words with two or more related meanings.
Laísmo
Incorrect substitution of the indirect object pronoun “le” with “la.”
Loísmo
Incorrect substitution of the indirect object pronoun “le” with “lo.”
Leísmo
Incorrect substitution of the direct object pronoun “lo” with “le.”
Words Spelled with “B”
- Words containing “mb,” “bl,” and “br”: e.g., cambio, blanco, bravo.
- Imperfect indicative endings in “-aba”: e.g., ordenaba.
- Words beginning with “sub-“, “abs-“, and “obs-“: e.g., subsoil, absorb, obstáculo.
- Words starting with “bu-“, “bur-“, “bus-“, and the prefixes “bio-“, “biblio-“, “bis-“: e.g., bucear, burbuja, buscar, biografía, biblioteca, bisabuelo.
- Words ending with “-bilidad” and “-bundo”: e.g., amabilidad, vagabundo.
Words Spelled with “V”
- Past tense forms of “andar,” “estar,” and “tener”: e.g., anduve, estuve, tuve.
- Adjectives ending in “-avo,” “-ava,” “-evo,” “-eva,” “-ivo”: e.g., suave, nueva, longevo.
- After “n” and “d”: e.g., inversión, advertir.
- Words beginning with “vice-“, “vi-“, “viz-“, “video-“: e.g., vicerrector, videoconferencia, vizconde.
- Words ending in “-voro” and “-vora”: e.g., carnívoro.
Expository Text
Aims to report objectively on a topic in a clear and orderly manner.
Characteristics of Expository Texts
- Objective Information: Focuses on accuracy and objectivity.
- Clear and Simple Style: Uses present tense verbs and short sentences for easy comprehension.
- Examples: Supports and clarifies ideas for the reader.