Key Linguistic Terms Defined

Linguistic Terms Defined

Phrases

Phrases are combinations of words whose meaning is not equivalent to the sum of its elements. Examples include verbal (e.g., 'drinking are the winds'), nominal (e.g., 'another matter'), adjectival (e.g., 'mad'), and so on.

Proverbial Phrases

Proverbial phrases are groups of words with a unified meaning that refer to characters or events of historical or cultural tradition. Example: 'Rome was not built in one hour'.

Proverbs

Proverbs are full and independent constructs that express a thought, observation, or warning, generally with a judgmental tone. Example: 'He who rises early, God helps him'.

Features of Technical Language

• Precision and Monosemy: Each term must have a single meaning.
• Neutrality or Impersonality: No emotional charge or subjective nuances.
• Abundance of Symbols, Numbers, Letters: In many cases, formal languages are used.

Neologisms

Neologisms are words that have been formed by combining elements that already exist in the language.

Phrase (Syntactic Definition)

A phrase is a word or set of words that performs a syntactic and semantic function in a sentence. There are verbal, nominal, adjectival, and adverbial phrases. The verb phrase is the syntactic unit that functions as the predicate of the sentence and has a verb, a verbal locution, or a verbal periphrasis as its core.

Direct Object

The direct object usually expresses the result of the verbal process or a directly related term.

Indirect Object

The indirect object usually expresses the idea of recipient, purpose, origin, etc., related to the meaning of the verb.

Dative

The dative refers to unstressed indirect object pronouns that are sometimes used to express emphasis, interest, possession, etc.

Complement of Regime

The complement of regime (or prepositional complement) is required by certain verbs that need a specific preposition to complete their meaning.

Agent Complement

In passive constructions, the agent complement is the entity that performs the action of the verb.

Circumstantial Complements

Circumstantial complements provide data or information about the circumstances in which the verbal process unfolds. These include complements of:

• Manner
• Place
• Time
• Quantity
• Cause
• Purpose
• Instrument
• Material
• etc.

Attribute

The attribute is a syntactic function that applies to the subject through a copula (linking verb). It serves to identify the subject, inform us about its class membership, or express a quality.

Predicative Complements

Predicative complements relate to a predicative verb and a noun or noun phrase that can function as subject or direct object.

Clausal Complements

Clausal complements affect not only the predicate but the entire sentence. Examples include tags, attributes, sentence complements, and declarative verb complements.