Unit 2 - Lexis

What is lexis?

Lexis refers to individual words or sets of words, for example: tree, get up, first of all, all’s well that ends well, i.e. units of vocabulary which have a specific meaning.

Lexical features	Clear (adjective)	Paper (noun)
Denotations	1- Easy to understand 2- Not covered or blocked 3- Having no doubt	1- Material used to write on or wrap things in 2- a newspaper 3- a document containing  information
Synonyms	Simple (of denotation 1) Certain (of denotation 3)	(none)
Antonyms/Opposites	Confusing (of denotation 1) Untidy, covered (of denotation 2) Unsure (of denotation 3)	(none)
Lexical sets	Well-written (of denotation 1)	Stone, plastic, cloth, etc.
Word families	Clearly, unclear, clarity	(none)
Homophones	(none)	(none)
Homonyms	(none)	(none)
False friend	French ‘clair’,i.e. light in colour	Possibly in some languages
Prefixes + base word	Unclear	(none)
Base word + suffixes	Clearly, a clearing	Paperless
Compounds	Clear-headed	Paper knife, paper shop, paperback
Collocations	Clear skin, a clear day	Lined paper, white paper
Figurative meanings	A clear head	On paper (e.g. it seemed a good idea on paper)
Idioms	To clear the decks (to start afresh)	To put pen to paper

Reference:

Spratt, M., Pulverness, A., & Williams, M. (2012). The TKT Teaching Knowledge Test Course Modules 1,2 and 3 (Vol. Second edition). United Kingdom: Cambridge English.