The definitions tag has no wiki summary.
3
votes
2answers
143 views
What's the difference between syntax and grammar?
From what I've read, both terms have to do with the rules of formation of sentences. I've seen grammar used in mathematical contexts, in computability theory, where it has a precise definition. But ...
3
votes
2answers
138 views
What defines a language?
I'm reading around multimodal text and many of the readings I have come across (Kress, Halliday) seem to define language as spoken or written communication. That seems to exclude sign language and ...
5
votes
1answer
127 views
Meaning of sufformative versus suffix
In reading Daniel Block's commentary on Ezekiel, I have come across the word sufformative. (Block uses it of the Hebrew masculine singular ending -em.) I have searched all around but cannot find a ...
12
votes
5answers
249 views
What divides semantics from pragmatics?
To my understanding... Semantics is the raw meaning and connotations a word carries on it's own and pragmatics is the context-dependent meaning a word holds.
Is this accurate? Can anyone explain it ...
12
votes
2answers
129 views
Is it possible for a non-native version of a language to be classed as a dialect?
I know pretty much what constitutes a dialect for native speakers of a language, but I wonder if countries that don't speak it as a primary language, but have a large segment of the population that is ...
4
votes
4answers
513 views
What is the difference between a copula and a transitive verb?
I can only speak from an English perspective. Be seems to me to be a transitive verb, when joining a subject and an object, yet it is described as a copula.
What I mean is
The bullseye is the ...
9
votes
4answers
318 views
How are proper nouns distinguished from other nouns in linguistics (not in orthography)?
When you ask most people the difference between common nouns and proper nouns they mostly can only tell you that proper nouns start with a capital letter.
But this has problems:
Capital letters and ...
4
votes
3answers
815 views
Definition(s) of phoneme
What different definitions of phoneme do you know?
Please note that I'm not asking for an explanation of what phoneme is but rather for professional definitions. I'm interested in how the issue is ...
5
votes
5answers
475 views
Is etymology considered part of linguistics or a separate field outside the scope of linguistics?
Etymology is the study of the origins and history or development of words and phrases.
Is it considered though to be part of the study of linguistics or is it considered to a separate field like we ...
-2
votes
1answer
132 views
What are the criteria for deciding whether a language is “a vernacular”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are the criteria for deciding whether a language is “natural”?
Edited to add: I've been directed by the moderators to revise my earlier question (What ...
6
votes
5answers
278 views
What are the criteria for deciding whether a language is “natural”?
I read in the Linguistics section on the Wikipedia page for American Sign Language that ASL was "proven [to be a natural language] to the satisfaction of the linguistic community by William Stokoe, ...
