SettingsLanguage varieties and styles
Ausbausprache, Abstandsprache and Dachsprache
The Ausbausprache – Abstandsprache – Dachsprache framework is a tool in dialectology used by sociolinguists for analysing and categorising the distinctiveness of language varieties t...
The Ausbausprache – Abstandsprache – Dachsprache framework is a tool in dialectology used by sociolinguists for analysing and categorising the distinctiveness of language varieties t...
Baby talk
Baby talk, also referred to as caretaker speech, infant-directed speech or child-directed speech and informally as "motherese", "parentese", "mommy talk", or ...
Baby talk, also referred to as caretaker speech, infant-directed speech or child-directed speech and informally as "motherese", "parentese", "mommy talk", or ...
Brogue
The term brogue generally refers to an Irish accent.
The term brogue generally refers to an Irish accent.
Business speak
Business speak, also management speak refers to a particular syntax often used in large organizations.
Business speak, also management speak refers to a particular syntax often used in large organizations.
California slang
California slang is slang used in California English, or which originates in California.
California slang is slang used in California English, or which originates in California.
Cant (language)
A cant is the jargon or argot of a group, often implying its use to exclude or mislead people outside the group.
A cant is the jargon or argot of a group, often implying its use to exclude or mislead people outside the group.
Causerie
Causerie (from French, "babble") is a literary style of short informal essays mostly unknown in the English-speaking world.
Causerie (from French, "babble") is a literary style of short informal essays mostly unknown in the English-speaking world.
Chronolect
In linguistics, a chronolect is a specific variety of language of which the characteristics are in particular determined by time-related factors.
In linguistics, a chronolect is a specific variety of language of which the characteristics are in particular determined by time-related factors.
Corpsing
Corpsing is a British theatrical slang term used to describe when an actor unintentionally breaks character during a scene by laughing or by causing another cast member to laugh.
Corpsing is a British theatrical slang term used to describe when an actor unintentionally breaks character during a scene by laughing or by causing another cast member to laugh.
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists.
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists.
Diasystem
In dialectology, the term diasystem Greek dia-, 'cross-', 'across', 'through', 'between'
Now denotes related dialects.
In dialectology, the term diasystem Greek dia-, 'cross-', 'across', 'through', 'between'
Now denotes related dialects.
Elegant variation
Elegant variation is a phrase coined by Henry Watson Fowler referring to the unnecessary use of synonyms to denote a single thing.
Elegant variation is a phrase coined by Henry Watson Fowler referring to the unnecessary use of synonyms to denote a single thing.
Erzgebirgisch
Erzgebirgisch (or Aarzgebèèrgsch, pronounced ) is an Upper German dialect, probably belonging to the Franconian dialect group, spoken mainly in the central Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains).
Erzgebirgisch (or Aarzgebèèrgsch, pronounced ) is an Upper German dialect, probably belonging to the Franconian dialect group, spoken mainly in the central Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains).
Ethnolect
Ethnolect is a variety of a language spoken by a certain ethnic/cultural subgroup and serves as a distinguishing mark of social identity.
Ethnolect is a variety of a language spoken by a certain ethnic/cultural subgroup and serves as a distinguishing mark of social identity.
Fanspeak
Fanspeak is the slang or jargon current in science fiction and fantasy fandom, especially those terms in use among readers and writers of science fiction fanzines.
Fanspeak is the slang or jargon current in science fiction and fantasy fandom, especially those terms in use among readers and writers of science fiction fanzines.
Franponais
Franponais (a portmanteau of French and Japanese, using the French forms français and japonais), is the misuse of French words or phrases in Japan.
Franponais (a portmanteau of French and Japanese, using the French forms français and japonais), is the misuse of French words or phrases in Japan.
Generic antecedent
Generic antecedents are representatives of classes, referred to in ordinary language by another word (most often a pronoun), in a situation in which gender is typically unknown or irrelevant.
Generic antecedents are representatives of classes, referred to in ordinary language by another word (most often a pronoun), in a situation in which gender is typically unknown or irrelevant.
Gobbledygook
Gobbledygook or gobbledegook is any text containing jargon or especially convoluted English that results in it being excessively hard to understand or even incomprehensible.
Gobbledygook or gobbledegook is any text containing jargon or especially convoluted English that results in it being excessively hard to understand or even incomprehensible.
Hyperforeignism
A hyperforeignism is a non-standard language form resulting from an unsuccessful attempt to apply the rules of a foreign language to a loan word or, occasionally, a word believed to be a loan word.
A hyperforeignism is a non-standard language form resulting from an unsuccessful attempt to apply the rules of a foreign language to a loan word or, occasionally, a word believed to be a loan word.
Idiolect
In linguistics, an idiolect is a variety of language that is unique to a person, as manifested by the patterns of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation that the person uses.
In linguistics, an idiolect is a variety of language that is unique to a person, as manifested by the patterns of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation that the person uses.
Interlanguage
An interlanguage is an emerging linguistic system that has been developed by a learner of a second language (or L2) who has not become fully proficient yet but is approximating the target langua...
An interlanguage is an emerging linguistic system that has been developed by a learner of a second language (or L2) who has not become fully proficient yet but is approximating the target langua...
Jargon
Jargon is terminology which is especially defined in relationship to a specific activity, profession, group, or event.
Jargon is terminology which is especially defined in relationship to a specific activity, profession, group, or event.
Joual
Joual is the common name for the linguistic features of basilectal Quebec French that are associated with the French-speaking working class in Montreal which has become a symbol of national ...
Joual is the common name for the linguistic features of basilectal Quebec French that are associated with the French-speaking working class in Montreal which has become a symbol of national ...
Kathleen S. Dunn
Kathleen S. Dunn is a certified dialect coach, accent reduction coach, voice and body movement instructor, and professional actress.
Kathleen S. Dunn is a certified dialect coach, accent reduction coach, voice and body movement instructor, and professional actress.
Language and gender
Language and gender is an area of study within sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, and related fields that investigates varieties of speech associated with a particular gender, or social norm...
Language and gender is an area of study within sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, and related fields that investigates varieties of speech associated with a particular gender, or social norm...
Language planning
Language planning is a deliberate effort to influence the function, structure, or acquisition of languages or language variety within a speech community.
Language planning is a deliberate effort to influence the function, structure, or acquisition of languages or language variety within a speech community.
Language secessionism
Language secessionism (also known as linguistic secessionism or Linguistic separatism) is an attitude supporting the separation of a language variety from the language to which it no...
Language secessionism (also known as linguistic secessionism or Linguistic separatism) is an attitude supporting the separation of a language variety from the language to which it no...
Legal writing
Legal writing is a type of technical writing used by lawyers, judges, legislators and others in law to express legal analysis and legal rights and duties.
Legal writing is a type of technical writing used by lawyers, judges, legislators and others in law to express legal analysis and legal rights and duties.
Mutual intelligibility
In linguistics, mutual intelligibility is recognized as a relationship between languages or dialects in which speakers of different but related languages can readily understand each other withou...
In linguistics, mutual intelligibility is recognized as a relationship between languages or dialects in which speakers of different but related languages can readily understand each other withou...
National language
A national language is a language which has some connection—de facto or de jure—with a people and perhaps by extension the territory they occupy.
A national language is a language which has some connection—de facto or de jure—with a people and perhaps by extension the territory they occupy.
Nonstandard dialect
A nonstandard dialect is a dialect that does not have the institutional support or sanction that a standardized dialect has.
A nonstandard dialect is a dialect that does not have the institutional support or sanction that a standardized dialect has.
Observer's paradox
In the social sciences, the observer's paradox refers to phenomena where the observation of an event or experiment is influenced by the presence of the observer/investigator.
In the social sciences, the observer's paradox refers to phenomena where the observation of an event or experiment is influenced by the presence of the observer/investigator.
Official language
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction.
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction.
Online discourse environment
Online discourse environments are online spaces where people interact with one another by some means of discourse.
Online discourse environments are online spaces where people interact with one another by some means of discourse.
Online discussion
Online discussion is a relatively new form of communication, facilitated usually by computer networks.
Online discussion is a relatively new form of communication, facilitated usually by computer networks.
Patois
Patois (, pl. ) is any language that is considered nonstandard, although the term is not formally defined in linguistics.
Patois (, pl. ) is any language that is considered nonstandard, although the term is not formally defined in linguistics.
Pluricentric language
A pluricentric language is a language with several standard versions, both in spoken and in written forms.
A pluricentric language is a language with several standard versions, both in spoken and in written forms.
Prestige (sociolinguistics)
In sociolinguistics, prestige describes the level of respect accorded to a language or dialect as compared to that of other languages or dialects in a speech community.
In sociolinguistics, prestige describes the level of respect accorded to a language or dialect as compared to that of other languages or dialects in a speech community.
Register (sociolinguistics)
In linguistics, a register is a variety of a language used for a particular purpose or in a particular social setting.
In linguistics, a register is a variety of a language used for a particular purpose or in a particular social setting.
Sarkar's Linguistic Concepts and Criteria
Sarkar's Linguistic Concepts and Criteria is a therory in linguistics that suggests that there are morphological, phonological and syntactical properties that every language posesses and it rega...
Sarkar's Linguistic Concepts and Criteria is a therory in linguistics that suggests that there are morphological, phonological and syntactical properties that every language posesses and it rega...
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially.
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially.
Sociolect
In sociolinguistics, a sociolect or social dialect is a variety of language (a dialect) associated with a social group such as a socioeconomic class, an ethnic group, an age group, etc.
In sociolinguistics, a sociolect or social dialect is a variety of language (a dialect) associated with a social group such as a socioeconomic class, an ethnic group, an age group, etc.
Standard language
A standard language is a language variety used by a group of people in their public discourse.
A standard language is a language variety used by a group of people in their public discourse.
Stylistics (literature)
Stylistics is the study and interpretation of texts from a linguistic perspective.
Stylistics is the study and interpretation of texts from a linguistic perspective.
Stylometry
Stylometry is the application of the study of linguistic style, usually to written language.
Stylometry is the application of the study of linguistic style, usually to written language.
Subdialect
Subdialect - is a subdivision of dialect.
Subdialect - is a subdivision of dialect.
Switcheroo
A switcheroo is a sudden unexpected variation or reversal often associated with a joke (sometimes "the old switcheroo").
A switcheroo is a sudden unexpected variation or reversal often associated with a joke (sometimes "the old switcheroo").
Truce term
A truce term is a word or short phrase accepted within a community of children as an effective way of calling for a temporary respite or truce during a game or activity.
A truce term is a word or short phrase accepted within a community of children as an effective way of calling for a temporary respite or truce during a game or activity.
Usage
A style guide or style manual is a set of standards for the writing and design of documents, either for general use or for a specific publication, organization or field.
A style guide or style manual is a set of standards for the writing and design of documents, either for general use or for a specific publication, organization or field.
Variation (linguistics)
In sociolinguistics, variation in language use among speakers or groups of speakers is a principal concern.
In sociolinguistics, variation in language use among speakers or groups of speakers is a principal concern.
Variety (linguistics)
In sociolinguistics a variety, also called a lect, is a specific form of a language or language cluster.
In sociolinguistics a variety, also called a lect, is a specific form of a language or language cluster.
Verbosity
Verbosity in language refers to speech or writing which is deemed to use an excess of words.
Verbosity in language refers to speech or writing which is deemed to use an excess of words.
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language ...
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language ...
Working language
A working language (also procedural language) is a language that is given a unique legal status in a supra-national company, society, state or other body or organization as its primary mea...
A working language (also procedural language) is a language that is given a unique legal status in a supra-national company, society, state or other body or organization as its primary mea...
Yeniche language
The Yeniche language, or Jenisch, (ISO 629-3 code: yec) is a variety of German, spoken by the Yeniche, former nomads living mostly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of France.
The Yeniche language, or Jenisch, (ISO 629-3 code: yec) is a variety of German, spoken by the Yeniche, former nomads living mostly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of France.
Yeshivish
Yeshivish, refers to a sociolect of English spoken by yeshiva students and other Jews with a strong connection to the Orthodox yeshiva world.
Yeshivish, refers to a sociolect of English spoken by yeshiva students and other Jews with a strong connection to the Orthodox yeshiva world.