Sourcing Metalanguage Definitions

[sunnysideup]

Hey all!
I was just wondering where the best source is for definitions in 3/4 Lang. When I did Health, I took them straight from VCAA, or the textbook - but I can't find an 'official' glossary for Lang, and my textbook is yet to be printed. What are reliable sources? For that matter, is it actually important that I memorise certain definitions? Can I be asked to define a term (and be marked on a word-for-word definition) or is the idea more just for me to know the meaning of metalanguage so that I can then incorporate it into answers and essays? I suspect it's the latter, but either way I'd like some solid definitions - so I suppose I'm wondering if there are specific ones the examiners will be looking for, or if it's more just about understanding and I can pull them from anywhere.
Thanks in advance!

[babushka818]

Hey all!
I was just wondering where the best source is for definitions in 3/4 Lang. When I did Health, I took them straight from VCAA, or the textbook - but I can't find an 'official' glossary for Lang, and my textbook is yet to be printed. What are reliable sources? For that matter, is it actually important that I memorise certain definitions? Can I be asked to define a term (and be marked on a word-for-word definition) or is the idea more just for me to know the meaning of metalanguage so that I can then incorporate it into answers and essays? I suspect it's the latter, but either way I'd like some solid definitions - so I suppose I'm wondering if there are specific ones the examiners will be looking for, or if it's more just about understanding and I can pull them from anywhere.
Thanks in advance!

Hey mate
Given the structure of the exam and from my experience, I'm pretty sure your final examination will not ask you to write a set definition. However you do need to know all metalanguage terms thoroughly so you can use and analyse them in essays and commentaries. I don't know if your school structure will involve you knowing word-for-word definitions, but it's highly unlikely. There is no set correct definition appointed by VCAA so you can pull definitions from anywhere, but it would be to your advantage to get them from solid locations, such as metalanguage books, dictionaries for some perhaps, textbooks, etc. Good luck!

[dmitridr]

Hey all!
I was just wondering where the best source is for definitions in 3/4 Lang. When I did Health, I took them straight from VCAA, or the textbook - but I can't find an 'official' glossary for Lang, and my textbook is yet to be printed. What are reliable sources? For that matter, is it actually important that I memorise certain definitions? Can I be asked to define a term (and be marked on a word-for-word definition) or is the idea more just for me to know the meaning of metalanguage so that I can then incorporate it into answers and essays? I suspect it's the latter, but either way I'd like some solid definitions - so I suppose I'm wondering if there are specific ones the examiners will be looking for, or if it's more just about understanding and I can pull them from anywhere.
Thanks in advance!

Hi there!

That's a really good question! Eng Lang is not so much about 'memorising' definitions like in Health, PE or Business Management, rather it's about how you can apply this knowledge and identify examples within a text/transcript and use the correct metalinguistic term to describe this (if that makes sense). Yes, having a sound knowledge of the definition would be important, but also understanding some examples of this definition would be essential too.

I would recommend creating you own definitions list first to allow you to think independently and then check it against the textbook and also online. Without trying to shamelessly promote my online course, I do sell an online course for English Language (with definitions to all terms), which can be found in my signature link.

I hope that helps

Dmitri.