Which term best describes the spread of a new form across different genres of language use?

• A. Lexical diffusion.
• B. Phonological diffusion.
• C. Cross-genre spread.
• D. S-curve diffusion.

Answer: (C)

Cross-genre spread describes how a linguistic feature moves from one genre of language use to another—such as a casual spoken expression becoming common in formal writing or media discourse. It focuses on the shift across different contexts of language use, not on changes within the vocabulary or on sound patterns. Lexical diffusion, by contrast, concerns how a new word or sense propagates through the lexicon itself. Phonological diffusion deals with how sound changes propagate through pronunciation systems. An S-curve diffusion models the overall adoption rate over time, regardless of genre boundaries. So the term that best fits the description is cross-genre spread.