Essential Linguistic and Philosophical Terminology Defined

Linguistic and Philosophical Concepts

Core Linguistic Terms

• Morphology: The branch of linguistics that studies the inflection, derivation, and composition of words.
• Syntax: The branch of grammar that studies how words are combined and related to form larger sequences, clauses, and sentences, including their roles within these structures.
• Pragmatics: The discipline that studies language in its relationship with users, the circumstances of the context, and the communicative act.
• Semantics: The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of linguistic signs and their combinations from a synchronic or diachronic perspective.
• Phonology: A branch of linguistics that studies phonemes.
• Phoneme: Each minimal phonological unit in a language system that can contrast with others to create significant differences.
• Grapheme: The smallest, indivisible unit of a graphical representation system of a language.
• Morpheme: A minimal linguistic unit whose meaning changes or completes the meaning of lexemes.
• Allomorphs: The alternative forms of morphemes, whether they are lexemes or affixes.
• Moneme: The smallest unit endowed with meaning.
• Signifier: A phoneme or sequence of phonemes that, together with the meaning, constitutes a linguistic sign.
• Deixis: The role of linguistic elements that signal something mentioned in speech, a point on the axes of space or time, or an item related to the speakers.

General and Philosophical Terminology

• Añejo: Old; something that has existed for one or more years.
• A priori: Before considering a particular case.
• A posteriori: After examining a particular case.
• Language: The communication system specific to a community.
• Language (Speech): A group of articulate sounds with which people express their thoughts or feelings.
• Zoosemiotics: The science that studies animal communication.
• Dogma: A proposition established as a solid, true, and undeniable principle of a science.
• Cynical: Brazen, shameless, cheeky, false, or hypocritical.
• Hyperbole: An exaggeration.
• Ending: A variable termination added to the root of a word to express grammatical information.
• Boustrophedon: An ancient Greek writing style where the direction of signs alternates in each line.
• Languid: Thin, weak, or fatigued.
• Páramo: A flat surface at high altitude with rocky soil.
• Doctrine: Teaching or instruction given to someone.
• Calico: A cotton fabric, often painted white, that is relatively fine and low-priced.
• Iconoclast: A person who denies the sacred worship of images, often destroying them or persecuting those who worship them.
• Insightful: Sharp; easily capable of realizing difficult things.
• Suspicion: An inclination to mistrust.
• Narrow: Restricted in width or scope.