Online encyclopedic English-Slovak and Slovak-English

Linguistics Dictionary

Term
The linguistics
field it belongs to

The conceptualization
in the language of origin

Example
Translation accounting
for the content equivalence

macro-context 

stylistics

This is a broader societal and historical context.

If you describe, for example, how social class, religious affiliation, gender, politics, culture, economics and societal norms affect the manners in which people understand and interpret texts, you are considering the role of broader societal and historical context in understanding and interpreting texts.

makrokontext; sociálno-kultúrny kontext

main clause 

syntax

a grammatical construction that can stand alone; syntactically, it a complete sentence, which does not need to (but can) be attached to another (main or subordinate) clause

My brother lives in Prague.
My brother lives in Prague even though he has always dreamt of leaving for England.

hlavná veta

main verb 

morphology

it is that verb in a sentence that fulfills the function of a lexical verb (brings the meaning): 1) if there is only one verb in the sentence, it is main, 2) if a sentence has a verb phrase with more than 1 verb, the last verb in the verb phrase is main. Full verbs are always main; primary verbs are main if they are followed by a noun or an adjective; modal verbs are never main (they are always auxiliary).

1) We like literature. She is clever.

2) We have been reading.

v slovenčine tento koncept nie je, a preto slovenský termín neexistuje;

manipulative 
language

pragmalinguistics stylistics

Language influencing or attempting to influence the behavior or emotions of others for one’s own purposes.

In the following statement, the use of the adjective “innocent” and the verb “murder” affects the perception of the fact stated in the utterance: Everyday, thousands of innocent creatures are murdered by scientists who test medicines and cosmetics on them.”

manipulatívny jazyk

manner 
(of articulation)

phonetics/phonology

Manner of articulation is the way in which the airstream is modified during the articulation of a consonant.

Based on the manner of articulation we divide sounds into stops/plosives/occlusives (complete blockage in the vocal tract), fricatives (narrowing), affricates (combination of a blockage followed by a narrowing), etc.

spôsob (výslovnosti)

marginal modal
verbs (also called
semi-modals)

morphology

one of the four groups of modal verbs in the typology proposed by Quirk et al, 1992; they can function either as modal verbs or as full verbs

dare, need, ought to, used to

semi-modálne verbá

market model
of language 

stylistics

Language that is used for marketing all sorts of commodities (drinks, food, clothing, cosmetics, even education, etc.).

The following marketing slogans try to attract the consummers´attention by stressing the postivive values of the commodity in question: “Pepsi brings you back to life.” “Educating tomorrow´s healthcare leaders.”

jazyk marketingovej komunikácie

maxim
of manner 

pragmalinguistics, stylistics

A person observes this maxim in communication when they try to be as clear, as brief, and as orderly as one can in what one says, and where one avoids obscurity and ambiguity.

Example of following the rule:
A: Where was the professor when class ended?
B: She left class and went to her office.

Example of violating the rule:
A: How is Kate today?
B: She’s the usual.

zásada spôsobu

maxim
of modesty 

stylistics

One of the six maxims proposed by Leech (1983) in his PP (politeness principle) meaning to minimize praise or to maximize dispraise of self.

I wrote it reasonably well.

zásada skromnosti

maxim
of quality 

pragmalinguistics stylistics

A person observes this maxim in communication when they try to be truthful, and do not give information that is false or that is not supported by evidence.

Let’s say that A asks B “Where´s Big Ben?” If B responds, “In London” , B is obeying the maxim of quality, by giving truthful information as is needed. However, if B responds “In Prague”, it violates the maxim of quality becasue it provides wrong information.

zásada kvality

maxim
of quantity 

pragmalinguistics stylistics

A person observes this maxim in communication when they try to be as informative as one possibly can, and give as much information as is needed, and no more.

Let’s say that A asks B “What did you have for breakfast this morning?” If B responds, “I had some toast and jam,” B is obeying the maxim of quantity, by giving as much information as is needed. However, if B´s response is “I had some breakfast before yoga class. The daily stretching is really making a difference to my fitness!”, it violates maxim of quantity because A) it does not give the requested information about breakfast, and B) it gives more information than is necessary for the current exchange.

zásada kvantity

maxim of relation/relevance 

pragmalinguistics stylistics

A person observes this maxim in communication when they try to be relevant, and say things that are pertinent to the discussion.

Let’s say that A asks B “How do you like your steak?” and B responds “Medium rare, please. B is obeying the maxim of relation/relevance, by giving truthful information as is needed. However, if B responds “I like steak very much”, this response violates the maxim of relation/relevance as it does answer the question asked.

zásada vzťahu

meaning concept

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meaning shift 

semantics lexicology stylistics

A change in meaning.

The word “mouse” has acquired a new meaning in IT technology.

významový posun

medium 
of
communication

general linguistics stylistics

The term refers to the means by which information (the message) is transmitted between a speaker or writer (the sender) and an audience (the receiver); also known as channel of communication. We divide the different types of communication media into two different categories: 1. Physical media and 2. Mechanical media.

With physical media we mean channels where the person who is talking can be seen and heard by the audience, e.g large meetings. With mechanical media we mean written or electronic channels., e.g e-mails, intranet, sms, etc.

prostriedok komunikácie; komunikačné médium

melioration amelioration

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mental lexicon 

lexicology, word-formation

the dictionary in the speaker’s mind containing a list of words as well as rules for generating words that are not listed

A complex word like kindness would be listed in the central lexicon, but in the back-up store individuals have it broken up into kind and ness.This helps to establish the link with other words which contain the suffix -ness, e.g. happiness and goodness. In addition, there will be a rule stored in the speaker’s mind which suggests that a new noun can be formed by adding the suffix -ness to an adjective.

mentálny lexikón, mentálny slovník

meronymy 

lexicology

a hierarchical meaning relation, in which a ‘meronym’ is in a ‘part of’ relation with its superordinate term

heel is a meronym of foot, blade and handle are meronyms of knife

meronymia

metalingual 
(metalinguistic,
reflexive)
language function

stylistics

The use of language to discuss or describe itself.

When you are discussing the grammatical categories of English nouns, you are using language in its metalingual function.

metajazykový, metalingválny

metaphor 

stylistics

Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated, but which share some common characteristics. In other words, a resemblance of two contradictory or different objects is made based on a single or some common characteristics.

“My brother is the black sheep of the family,” is a metaphor because he is not a sheep, nor is he black. However, we can use this comparison to describe an association of a black sheep with that person. A black sheep is an unusual animal, which typically stays away from the herd, and the person being described shares similar characteristics.

metafora

metaphor 

lexicology

the use of a word in a context where its meaning is figurative or transferred based on comparison or association of similar concepts

face of a clock, tooth of a saw, bone of contention

metafora

meter 

stylistics

Rhythmic patterning that is imposed on a piece of language. In many Western classical poetic traditions, the metre of a verse can be described as a sequence of feet, each foot being a specific sequence of syllable types — such as relatively unstressed/stressed (the norm for English poetry) or long/short. Iambic pentameter, a common metre in English poetry, is based on a sequence of five iambic feet, each consisting of a relatively unstressed syllable (“×” above the syllable) followed by a relatively stressed one (“/” above the syllable) = “× /”

× / × / × / × / × /
So long as
men can breathe, or eyes can see,
× / × / × / × / × /
So long lives
this, and this gives life to thee.

metrum

metonymy 

lexicology

a semantic change where an attribute of a thing is used instead of the thing itself

crown is a metonymical name for the monarchy, Wall Street for the U.S. financial sector, the White House for the U.S. President

metonymia

metonymy 

stylistics

A figure of speech when the name of an attribute of an entity is used in place of the entity itself.

You may use the expression new money when referring to newly rich people.

metonymia

minimal pair 

phonetics, phonology

A minimal pair is a pair of words differing in one sound and meaning.

pit - pot, pick - pig, etc.

minimálny pár

modal auxiliary 

morphology

an auxiliary verb that modifies the meaning of the lexical verb

can, need, would rather

modálne sloveso

modal idiom 

morphology

one of the groups of modal verbs in the typology proposed by Quirk et al, 1992; two-word or three-word units that bring a modal meaning. The modal meaning of a modal phrase is different than the meaning of the constituents of the phrase.

would rather, had better, have got to, be to, may/might as well, Try as I may/might

v slovenčine tento koncept nie je, a preto slovenský termín neexistuje;

modality 
(modal meaning)

morphology, stylistics

it is modal meaning of an utterance, a subjective attitude expressed by uttering something; it can be expressed by 1) lexical means and 2) grammatical means

1) modal adverbs (certainly, maybe), modal auxiliaries (must, can, might)

2) grammatical category of mood

modálnosť

modification 

syntax

the structural dependence of one grammatical unit on another in which the meaning of the head of a phrase is affected by words that are used to indicate the qualities and attributes of the head.

that tiny snowflake (that’ – a premodifier, ‘zero article’ – a central modifier, no postmodifier);

štruktúrny vzťah v syntagme (v anglickej “fráze”)

modifier 

syntax

an optional element of the phrase. In a phrase, one grammatical unit is structurally dependent on another; the meaning of the head of a phrase is affected by words that are used to indicate qualities and attributes of the head.

very big, completely confused

slovenčina nemá vhodný ekvivalent; modifikujúci prvok v syntagme (“fráze”) ako základnej syntaktickej jednotke vety (v angličtine); v slovenčine sa v niektorých prípadoch poníma ako určujúci/vedľajší vetný člen

monologue 

stylistics

A prolonged talk or discourse by a single speaker.

(from Romeo and Juliet by W. Shakespeare): “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east and Juliet
is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious
moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief…
O
that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I
might touch that cheek!”

monológ

mood 

morphology

a grammatical means of expressing modality, one of grammatical categories of a verb involving three types: 1) indicative, 2) imperative, 3) subjunctive

1) She has two sisters.

2) Open the window, please.

3) Long live the King. I require that they be included in the team.

slovesný spôsob (modus)

mora 

phonetics, phonology

A mora is a unit of quantity (length) and rhythm in speech.

In the Slovak language the length of short monophthongs is measured by moras. One short monophthong is one mora. On the other hand, a long monophthong is once as long as a short monophthong in Slovak, therefore, the length of one long Slovak monophthong is two moras.

móra

morphology 

morphology

the study of the internal structure of words, and includes the study of base forms, and inflections (inflectional morphemes).

worked, works, boys, Peter’s, actress, smarter, best

morfológia

motivation 

lexicology

the relationship existing between the phonemic or morphematic composition or structural patterns of the word and its meaning, refers to a causal connection between the form of the word and its meaning, represents exceptions to arbitrariness; may be phonetic (there is a similarity between the sound form of the word and the sound of the extra-linguistic reality), morphological (morphematic structure suggests the meaning of the word) and semantic (there is a relationship between original and transferred meaning)

splash (phonetic motivation), rethink (morphological motivation), hand [part of the body, part of a clock] (semantic motivation)

motivácia

multiple channel
communication 

general linguistics/stylistics

Communication which involves two or more communication channels, i.e. we get information from auditory and visual signs; from auditory and visual channels/modes of communication.

face-to-face communication (we use verbal communication, gestures and body postures)

komunikácia využívajúca viac komunikačných kanálov

multi-word
verb 

morphology, phraseology

a lexical verb which may be combined with one or two particles to function as a verb with a unitary meaning. There are three kinds of multi-word verb: 1) phrasal verbs (a lexical verb + an adverb) , 2) prepositional verbs (a lexical verb + a preposition), 3) phrasal-prepositional verbs (a lexical verb + an adverb + a preposition).

1) look up (a word in a dictionary);

2) look at (me);

3) look forward to (seeing you)

v slovenčine tento koncept nie je, a preto slovenský termín neexistuje; používa sa doslovný preklad jedného z typov “frázové sloveso”