My first Bachelor's degree was in English Language and Literature, and currently, I am pursuing a degree in Applied Foreign Languages with a specialization in Translation in France. I spent a month collecting and organizing this glossary, aiming to provide assistance to learners and translators in the field of linguistics.
The glossary pertains to the subject of linguistics. It is designed to aid in the understanding of specialized linguistic terms in English and their corresponding French translations. It encompasses dozens of commonly used terms and provides pronunciation, definition, and example sentences. The terms are derived from my own linguistic learning experiences, definitions are from various dictionaries, glossaries, and corpora, such as Termium Plus etc.
acronym
noun
In the TERMIUM Guide, acronym is defined as a "shortened form of a syntagm or proper name, created by taking from it one or more groups of letters, and sometimes one or more letters, to form a sequence that is spoken as a word."
Example: 1.NASA is an acronym that stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
2.FOMO is a popular acronym that stands for Fear Of Missing Out, often used in social media and online communication.
3.The use of acronyms can be a useful way to convey complex information quickly and efficiently, but can also pose challenges for those who are unfamiliar with the terminology or context.
fr: acronyme (n.m.)
affix
noun
One or more non-freestanding morphemes attached to the beginning or end of a word or root, or inserted within a word or root.
Example: 1. The affix "-ize" can be added to the noun "computer" to create the verb "computerize".
fr: affixe (n.m.)
antonymy
noun
The relation between lexical items that are binary opposites in meaning (e.g. alive and dead), gradable opposites in meaning (e.g. young and old), or converse opposites (e.g. buy and sell).
Example: 1.The antonym of "hot" is "cold".
2."Up" and "down" are antonyms.
3."Big" and "small" are antonyms.
fr: antonymie (n.f.)
borrowing
noun
In specialized languages, the adoption of a terminology unit from one language or subject field for use in another.
Example: 1. In linguistics, borrowing refers to the process by which a word from one language is adopted and incorporated into another language.
2.Borrowing can occur for various reasons, including the need to express a concept or idea for which there is no existing word in the target language, or the desire to add linguistic diversity or prestige to the target language.
3.Examples of borrowings in English include "sushi" from Japanese, "kindergarten" from German, and "coffee" from Arabic.
fr: emprunt (n.m.)
collocation
noun
A collocation is a combination of words that are commonly used together in a particular language, often forming a phrase or expression that has a specific meaning.
Example: 1.The collocation “take a shower” is commonly used in American English.
2.In order to sound more fluent in a language, it's important to learn common collocations.
3.Using appropriate collocations can greatly enhance the clarity and precision of your writing.
fr: collocation (n.f.)
composition
noun
The process of creating new terms by joining established words, affixes, or combining forms. Examples: cyberspace, nonbiodegradable, webcast.
Example: 1. "Bedroom" is a composition of the words "bed" and "room".
2."Blackboard" is a composition of the words "black" and "board".
3."Lifeguard" is a composition of the words "life" and "guard".
fr: composition (n.f.)
continuum
noun
A continuous whole, quantity, or series.
Example: 1.In linguistics, continuum refers to a range of linguistic varieties that are closely related and which blend into each other, with no clear boundaries between them.
2.A language continuum can arise when different languages or dialects are spoken in geographic proximity to each other and influence each other over time.
3.An example of a language continuum is the dialect continuum in the German language, where different dialects are spoken across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other neighboring countries, and there is no clear dividing line between them.
fr: continuum (n.m.)
cooccurrence
Cooccurrence refers to the simultaneous or sequential appearance of two or more linguistic units, such as words or sounds, in a corpus or a text. It is the occurrence of one linguistic unit in relation to another in a given context or environment.
Example: 1.The cooccurrence of the words “happy” and “birthday” is common in English.
2.By analyzing the cooccurrence of sounds in different languages, linguists can identify common phonetic patterns.
3.The study of lexical cooccurrence can reveal important information about the meaning and usage of words in a given language.
fr: cooccurrence (n.f.)
corpus
noun
A collection of selected written texts assembled for the purpose of performing terminological analysis.
Example: 1.The linguist used a corpus of English novels to analyze the use of adjectives in different genres of literature.
2.The corpus of spoken language used by the researchers was collected from a diverse range of social contexts.
3.By analyzing the language used in a large corpus of online reviews, the researchers were able to identify patterns in customer satisfaction.
fr: corpus (n.m.)
derivation
noun
The process of forming new words from an existing base by adding affixes. Example: digital - to digitize.
Example: 1.In linguistics, derivation refers to the process of forming a new word by adding a prefix or a suffix to a base word or stem.
2.Derivation can change the meaning or the grammatical category of the base word, for example, the addition of the suffix "-ness" to the adjective "happy" to form the noun "happiness."
3.Derivation is a common process in many languages, including English, where it is used to create new words and expand the language's lexicon.
fr: dérivation (n.f.)
diachronic variation
phrase
Diachronic variation refers to the differences or changes in a language over time, as opposed to synchronic variation which refers to the differences or variations that exist at a particular point in time.
Example: 1.Diachronic variation can help us trace the origins and development of different language families.
2.The study of diachronic variation can provide insights into the historical, cultural, and social contexts in which a language evolved.
fr: variation diachronique
dialectical variation
Dialectical variation refers to the differences or variations that exist between different dialects of a language.
Example: 1.Dialectical variation can reveal interesting patterns of language change and contact across different regions.
2.The study of dialectical variation can help us understand the historical, cultural, and social factors that have influenced the development of different dialects of a language.
3.Dialectical variation is an important aspect of language teaching and learning, as it exposes learners to the variety of forms and expressions that exist within a language.
fr: dialectique variation
diastratic variation
phrase
Diastratic variation refers to the differences or variations that exist within a language based on social or class distinctions.
Example: 1.Diastratic variation can reveal how language is used as a marker of social identity and status.
2.The study of diastratic variation can help us understand the social and cultural factors that shape language variation and change.
3.Diastratic variation is an important consideration in language planning and policy, as it affects issues of language standardisation and language rights.
fr: diastratique variation
diatopic variation
phrase
Diatopic variation refers to the differences or variations that exist within a language based on geography or regional location.
Example: 1.Diatopic variation can help us understand the regional diversity of a language and its cultural and social implications.
2.The study of diatopic variation can reveal interesting patterns of language change and contact in different regions.
3.Diatopic variation is an important aspect of language teaching and learning, as it exposes learners to the variety of forms and expressions that exist within a language.
fr: diatopique variation
equivalent
noun
A terminology unit which designates a concept in one language and corresponds to a terminology unit designating the same concept in another language.
Example: 1. The French word "bonjour" is equivalent to the English word "hello".
2.In Spanish, "casa" is the equivalent of the English word "house".
3.The German word "Hund" is equivalent to the English word "dog".
fr: equivalent (n.m.)
generic relationship
phrase
The hierarchical relationship between a general concept and a series of subordinate concepts that inherit its properties (or semantic features) but which are distinguished from one another by at least one distinctive characteristic.
Example: 1.The relationship between "dog" and "animal" is an example of a generic relationship, as "dog" is a type of "animal".
2.In the sentence "I ate an apple", there is a generic relationship between "apple" and "fruit", as "apple" is a type of "fruit".
3.The concept of generic relationships is important in linguistics for understanding how words are related to each other and how we use language to categorise and classify objects and ideas.
fr: relation générique
glossary
noun
A list of terms that pertains to a specific subject field, together with equivalents (but not definitions) in one or more languages.
Example: 1.The textbook includes a glossary of key terms at the end of each chapter to help students understand the material better.
2.The software user manual includes a glossary of technical terms that explains each term in simple language.
3.The glossary at the back of the Biology textbook helped me understand the scientific terms used in the chapters.
fr: glossaire (n.m.)
holonym
noun
A term that denotes a whole, a part of which is denoted by a second term
Example: 1."Tree" is a holonym of "leaf".
2."Car" is a holonym of "wheel".
3."House" is a holonym of "room".
fr: holonyme (n.m.)
homonym
noun
A word or term with the same spelling as another but with a different meaning. Example: sound (noise) and sound (stretch of water).
Example: 1. "The students were confused by the homonyms 'flower' and 'flour'."
2."I love puns that play on homonyms, such as 'time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana'."
3."The English language has many homonyms, which can make it challenging for non-native speakers to learn."
fr: homonyme (n.m.)
hypernym
noun
A term that has a hierarchical relationship to another term whose semantic range is more restricted.
Example: 1."Animal" is a hypernym of "dog" and "cat".
2."Colour" is a hypernym of "red" and "blue".
3."Vehicle" is a hypernym of "car", "bus", and "train".
fr: hyperonyme (n.m.)
hyponym
noun
A term that has a hierarchical relationship to another term whose semantic range is broader than and encompasses its own.
Example: 1."Dog" and "cat" are hyponyms of "animal".
2."Red" and "blue" are hyponyms of "colour".
3."Car", "bus", and "train" are hyponyms of "vehicle".
fr: hyponyme (n.m.)
initialization
noun
The abbreviation of a complex designation by retaining only the initials of the component words.
Example: 1.The use of "USA" as an abbreviation for "United States of America" is an example of an initialization.
2.Many modern technologies, such as GPS and LCD, rely on the use of initializations for brevity and convenience.
3.In linguistics, initialization is an area of study that examines the use and development of abbreviated forms of words and phrases.
fr: siglaison (n.f.)
lemma
noun
Entry of an automatic dictionary.
Example: 1. The lemma for the verb "go" is "go", which can be inflected into forms such as "goes", "going", "went", etc.
2.In some languages, such as Latin, the lemma form of a noun is its nominative singular, while in others, such as Russian, it may be its genitive singular.
3.A linguistic analysis may involve comparing the frequency of different lemmas in a corpus of texts.
fr: lemme (n.m.)
lemmatization
noun
A process of deriving the base form.
Example: 1. During lemmatization, the word "was" would be reduced to its base form "be".
2.The lemmatization of the word "jumping" would result in its base form "jump".
3.The lemmatization of the word "better" would be reduced to its base form "good".
fr: lemmatisation (n.f.)
lexicology
A speciality in Linguistics dealing with the meaning and usage of words, as conceived in a dictionary or thesaurus.
Example: 1. Lexicology is a branch of linguistics that focuses on the study of words and vocabulary.
2. analyze the meaning and usage of words in different contexts and cultures.
3.Lexicology has an important role in language teaching, lexicography, and natural language processing.
fr: lexicologie (n.f.)
linguistics
noun
Linguistics is the scientific study of language, including its structure, use, and history(designations officially approved by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces).
Example: 1.Linguistics is a field that seeks to understand the nature of language and the ways in which it is used by human beings.
2.The study of linguistics involves the examination of the sounds, words, and grammar of language, as well as the social and cultural factors that shape language use.
3.Linguistics is an interdisciplinary field that draws on insights from psychology, philosophy, anthropology, and computer science to develop a comprehensive understanding of language and functions.
fr: linguistique (n.f.)
metaphor
noun
A figure of speech in which a name or a descriptive term is applied to a person or object to which it is not literally applicable, thus implying comparison. (Hartmann and Stork, Dictionary on Language and Linguistics. New-York; John Wiley and sons, 1972, p. 140)
Example: 1. Metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable, but which shares some common characteristics or qualities, such as describing someone as a "beast" or saying that something is "a sea of troubles."
2.Metaphors are commonly used in literature and everyday language to help create vivid imagery, convey complex ideas, and express emotions.
3.An example of a metaphor is "life is a journey." Another example is "time is money."
fr: métaphore (n.f.)
metonymy
noun
Figure where an object is designated by the name of another that is linked to the first in the experiment. (Rey-Debove, J., Lexique sémiotique. Paris; Presses universitaires de France, 1979, p. 98)
Example: 1."The pen is mightier than the sword." In this metaphor, "pen" is a metonymy for "writing".
2."Let me give you a hand." In this expression, "hand" is a metonymy for "help".
3."The suits on Wall Street are making all the decisions." In this sentence, "suits" is a metonymy for "businesspeople".
fr: métonymie (n.f.)
neology
noun
The coining or use of new words.
Example: 1.The rapid pace of technological change has led to the emergence of many new words and neologisms in recent years.
2.The study of neology can provide insights into the cultural and social trends that shape language use and development.
3.Neology is an important aspect of language change and evolution, as it reflects the dynamic nature of language and its ability to adapt to new circumstances and contexts.
fr: néologie (n.f.)
onomasiology
noun
The study of the means of expressing a given concept.
Example: 1. Onomasiology seeks to understand how speakers of a language choose words to express their thoughts and ideas.
2.Onomasiology is concerned with the relationship between concepts and the words used to express them.
3.Onomasiology investigates the ways in which speakers of different languages encode and categorize the world around them through language.
fr: onomasiologie (n.f.)
partitive relation
phrase
Hierarchical relationship in which the superordinate concept refers to an object as a whole and the subordinate concepts to parts of it. [Definition standardized by ISO.]
Example: 1.In the sentence "I ate some of the pizza", there is a partitive relation between "pizza" and "some", indicating that only a portion of the pizza was eaten.
2.The partitive relation is important in understanding how we use language to quantify and specify amounts of things, as in the sentence "I need a few more apples".
3.In linguistics, the partitive relation is studied as part of the broader field of semantics, which concerns the meaning of words and how they are used in sentences.
fr: relation partitive
polysemy
noun
Relation between several concepts sharing certain characteristics and their common designation.
Example: 1.The word "spring" has many polysemous meanings, including a season, a coiled piece of metal, and a source of water.
2.The word "bat" can refer to an animal, a piece of sports equipment, or a verb meaning to strike or hit.
3.Polysemy is a common feature of natural language, as words often evolve over time and take on new meanings or nuances.
fr: polysémie (n.f.)
popularization
noun
Adapting a set of technical, scientific knowledge in order to make it accessible to a non-specialist reader.
Example: 1. In linguistics, popularization refers to the process of making scientific or specialized information accessible and understandable to a wider audience, often through simplified language, explanations, and examples.
2.The popularization of linguistic concepts and research findings can help to increase public awareness and interest in language-related issues and contribute to language education and policy development.
3.An example of popularization in linguistics is the publication of books or articles that explain linguistic concepts and theories in plain language for non-experts, such as Steven Pinker's "The Language Instinct" or David Crystal's "The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language".
fr: vulgarisation (n.f.)
portmanteau word
phrase
A word composed of parts of two words (as chortle from chuckle and snort) all of one word and part of another (as bookmobile from book and automobile), or two entire words and characterized invariably in the latter case and frequently in the two former cases by single occurrence of one or more sounds or letters that appear in both the component words (as motel from motor hotel, camporee from camp and jamboree, aniseed from anise seed).
Example: 1.Linguists often use the term "portmanteau word" to describe a word created by blending two or more other words, such as "smog" from "smoke" and "fog."
2.Portmanteau words can be a useful tool for communication, condensing complex ideas or descriptions into a single term.
3.Some portmanteau words, such as "motel" from "motor" and "hotel," have become so common that they are now included in standard dictionaries.
fr: mot-valise (n.m.)
pragmatics
noun
The understanding that context influences [the] meaning [of a sentence].
Example: 1.In a business meeting, a person may use language to assert their authority over others in the room.
2.A speaker may use sarcasm to convey a different meaning than the literal words they are using.
3.In a conversation with a close friend, a speaker may use slang or inside jokes to create a shared understanding.
fr: pragmatique (n.f.)
prefix
noun
A parameter indicating that the designation is the first element in compounds.
Example: 1.Unhappy: The prefix "un-" added to the word "happy" changes its meaning to indicate the opposite, giving us the word "unhappy".
2.Dislike: The prefix "dis-" added to the word "like" changes the meaning to indicate the opposite, giving us the word "dislike".
3.Preheat: The prefix "pre-" added to the word "heat" changes the meaning to indicate that the action of heating is done beforehand, giving us the word "preheat".
fr: préfixe (n.m.)
roll-up
phrase
This is a semantic modulation. The term roll-up is not new to the English language, but its meaning in this context is. It is a general term that has been adapted to fit this new domain-- that of Business Affairs and Finance. Because its meaning has been modified, it can also be perceived as an extension of sense.
Example: 1. Roll-up is a term in linguistics that describes the process of combining multiple sounds or syllables into a single unit, often in informal or colloquial speech.
2.The roll-up of sounds in spoken language can sometimes result in the creation of new words or meanings.
3.The study of roll-up and other processes of sound change is a key area of research in the field of historical linguistics.
fr: fusion (n.f.)
semantical relation
phrase
Semantic relations are relations between concepts or linguistic expressions.
Example: 1.Understanding the semantical relation between words is essential for learning a language.
2.The semantical relation between the words "dog" and "puppy" is that "puppy" is a type of "dog".
3.In the sentence "The cat is on the mat", the semantical relation between "cat" and "mat" is that the cat is located on the mat.
fr: relation sémantique
semantics
noun
The study of how meaning is generated in language.
Example: 1. The study of semantics is essential for understanding how meaning is conveyed through language.
2.In semantics, we examine the relationship between words and the concepts they represent.
3.The semantics of a sentence can be affected by various factors, such as context and tone of voice.
fr: sémantique (n.f.)
signifiant
noun
The sequence of sounds or graphic signs by which a speaker refers to a physical entity or abstract concept of which he has a mental image. Thus the word star (the signifier) may be used to convey the idea of a 'luminous heavenly body' (the (...) signified or referent).
Example: 1.In the word "cat," the signifiant is the combination of sounds /k/, /æ/, and /t/.
2.The signifiant of the word "tree" is its written form, consisting of the letters t-r-e-e.
3.The signifiant of the sign "STOP" is its visual form, consisting of the red octagonal shape and the letters S-T-O-P.
fr: signifiant (n.m.)
signifié
noun
A concrete object or abstract idea which is referred to by means of an appropriate (...) signifier, e.g. a sequence of verbal sounds or graphic signs. Thus the word star (the signifier) may be used to convey the idea of a "luminous heavenly body" (the signified) (...)
Example: 1. In the word "chat", the signifié is the concept of a small, domesticated feline animal.
2.The signifié of the word "tree" is the concept of a tall, perennial plant with a single stem or trunk, supporting branches and leaves.
3.The signifié of the word "love" is the abstract concept of an intense feeling of affection or deep attachment towards someone or something.
fr: signifié (n.m.)
specialisation
noun
The process by which a language evolves to create specialised terminology, often to describe specific concepts, phenomena, or fields of knowledge.
Example: 1. The specialisation of language can create barriers to communication between experts and laypeople, as technical terms may not be understood outside of their specific context.
2.In the field of medicine, specialisation has led to the development of complex medical terminology that requires years of study to understand.
3.The specialisation of language can also result in the formation of dialects and jargon specific to certain regions or professions.
fr: spécialisation (n.f.)
standardization
The selection, approval and dissemination of one or more terms by a standardizing body, after careful study of detailed terminological research findings, for the purpose of promoting preferred usage.
Example: 1. The standardization of spelling and grammar rules helped to make the language more uniform across different regions.
2.The creation of a standard dialect in broadcasting has led to increased intelligibility and comprehension among viewers and listeners.
3.The process of standardization has sometimes been controversial, with debates over which features should be included and how prescriptive the rules should be.
fr: normalisation (n.f.)
stylistics
noun
A branch of linguistics which studies the features of situationally dictinctive uses (varieties) of language, and tries to establish principles capable of accounting for the particular choices made by individual and social groups in their use of language.
Example: 1. In stylistics, we analyze the use of language in literary texts to understand the author's intended meaning and effect on the reader.
2.Stylistic differences between spoken and written language have been the subject of much research in linguistics.
3.The stylistic features of a text can reveal important information about the author's identity, social background, and cultural affiliations.
fr: stylistique (n.f.)
suffix
noun
A parameter indicating that the designation is the last element in compounds.
Example: 1. "Happiness" is formed by adding the suffix "-ness" to the base word "happy."
2.The word "hopeful" contains the suffix "-ful," which means "full of" or "having the qualities of."
3.The word "singer" is formed by adding the suffix "-er" to the base word "sing," indicating that the person performs the action of singing.
fr: suffixe (n.m.)
synonym
noun
A synonym is a word or phrase that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase in the same language.
Example: 1. The words "happy" and "joyful" are synonyms.
2."Big" and "large" are synonyms for each other.
3.In this passage, the author uses the synonyms "big" and "huge" to describe the size of the building.
fr: synonyme (n.m.)
syntax
noun
The rules governing the structure of expressions in a language or the relationships between the elements (words) of those expressions, regardless of the meaning of said elements or the manner in which they are interpreted and used. [Definition officially approved by GESC.]
Example: 1. The linguist analyzed the syntax of the sentence to understand its grammatical structure and meaning.
2.Understanding the syntax of a language is crucial for effective communication and comprehension.
3.The study of syntax has led to insights into how the human brain processes language.
fr: syntaxe (n.f.)
terminologization
noun
The process by which a general-language word or expression is transformed into a term in a specialized language.
Example: 1. The terminologization of medical terms in Arabic is still an ongoing process, and efforts are being made to keep up with the rapid pace of scientific advancements.
2.The terminologization of new terms related to digital technologies is essential in ensuring effective communication and understanding among professionals in the field.
3.The terminologization of legal terms and concepts is critical in ensuring the accuracy and clarity of legal documentation and discourse.
fr: terminologisation (n.f.)
truncation
noun
The elimination from a quotation, as represented by an ellipsis in parentheses, of one or more elements not considered to be terminologically relevant; also, the element(s) so eliminated.
Example: 1. The word 'exam' is a truncation of 'examination', commonly used in informal language and academic contexts.
2.Truncation is a common feature of many languages, and can result in the creation of new words and expressions over time.
3.The study of truncation can help linguists understand the mechanisms of word formation and derivation, as well as the cultural and historical factors that shape language use and evolution.
fr: troncation (n.f.)
variation
noun
Variation refers to the differences or deviations that exist within a language or a speech community, which may be caused by various factors.
Example: 1.There is a lot of variation in the way people pronounce words across different regions of the country.
2.The study of linguistic variation can help us understand how language changes over time.
3.One of the challenges of language teaching is to expose learners to a variety of linguistic forms and contexts that reflect the diversity of the language.