1. About Lexis
Lexis refers to the individual (vocabulary) word and the different forms
of the word that have a specific meaning. Take a look at this example:
doll
• rag doll
• get dolled up
• doll face
• to be a doll
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2. About Lexis
As EFL teachers, a feature or an
important part of language
that we teach our students is
vocabulary, also called lexis.
Lexis makes up the sentences we
communicate in our target
language. It contains
formulaic, metaphorical, and
grammatical principals.
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3. Take a look at the base word “girl”. Notice how many new meanings are
formed by combining the base word with other words:
girlfriend
girlsgirly
girl’s Girl Scout
girls’ night out
flower girl
girls and boys
girl
good girl
About Lexis2.C

4. Words take on different meanings in different contexts (the real
situation in which language is used). Read the sentences below. How
is the word “glow” used in each context?
About Lexis2.C
Pregnant women have a special
glow about them.
The glow from the neighbor’s
light kept me up all night.

5. In the first image, the word “glow”
is used in its literal meaning of the
word: to produce a continuous
light.
In the second image, the word
“glow” is used to refer to
something different from its
original meaning: to look
attractive because you are happy
or healthy.
About Lexis2.C

6. In the previous slide, we saw two examples of meaning: denotative
and figurative meaning.
Denotative:
The literal meaning of the word, as in the example:
The glow from the neighbor’s light kept me up all night.
Figurative:
The imaginative meaning behind a word, as in the example:
Pregnant women have a special glow about them.
About Lexis2.C

7. We can also identify a denotiation as the true meaning of the word
or the original idea behind it:
Bible (n).
1. a. The sacred book of Christianity, a
collection of ancient writings including the
books of both the Old Testament and New
Testament.
b. The Hebrew Scriptures, the sacred book
of Jadaism.
c. A book or collection of writings
constituting the sacred text of a religion.
2. A book considered authoritative in its field.
The Bible is the maximum authority for Christians.
About Lexis2.C

8. The figurative meaning is a vocabulary item used in a different
context from its denotation thereby changing its literal meaning:
Bible (n).
1. a. The sacred book of Christianity, a
collection of ancient writings including the
books of both the Old Testament and New
Testament.
b. The Hebrew Scriptures, the sacred book
of Jadaism.
c. A book or collection of writings
constituting the sacred text of a religion.
2. A book considered authoritative in its field.
The Emloyee Handbook is the bible for all new employees.
About Lexis2.C

9. Notice the denotative and figurative meanings in the following
dictionary entry:
About Lexis2.C

10. A root or base word is the form of the word that can be modified. These
elements change when we affix the word (-add a prefix or suffix- to the
word).
Take a look at how affixing the base word “submit” changes its parts of speech.
to submit (infinitive)
submissive (adjective)
resubmit (verb)
submitting (gerund form)
submission (noun)
About Lexis2.C

11. Words transform in meaning as their parts of speech
change, thus their lexicon changes. This is known as word
formation.
Lesson 2.D will focus on word transformations and their lexical
categories.
About Lexis2.C

12. The key terms and concepts you should know for this lesson
are:
affix (10)
base word (5, 10)
context (4)
denotation/denotative meaning (6)
feature (2)
Refer to the slide (in parenthesis) indicated after
each term to review its meaning.
About Lexis2.C
figurative meaning (6)
lexis (1)
register (12)
root word (10)
word formation (11)

13. BEFORE YOU CONTINUE TO THE NEXT LESSON:
• Complete the Vocabulary Quiz 1
Once you have completed the activities, continue to
lesson 1.D.