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Is there a formal classification of types of word origins?
I'm trying to compile a list of possible types of word origins as a preliminary work before trying to design a database of etymological relations between words (mainly for Turkish but the ultimate goal is broader).
By types of word origins, I mean…
cyco130
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Examples of physical signs adding content to conversation?
I love constructed languages, especially in fiction where I get a taste of constructed culture to go with it. One interesting idea that has popped up a few times in what I've been reading is the idea of a spoken language that has some kind of body…
mollyocr
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How do you determine the phonemes in small phonemic inventories?
Languages with small phoneme inventories such as Pirahã often encourage different constructions of the phoneme system. In the case of Pirahã, it either lacks phonemic velars or phonemic nasals. Are there any metrics to measure which option is more…
Anthony Miles
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What is the name of the first known word from which the current word is derived?
I'm interested in the name of the concept that defines the word from which another word comes.
For example, "Guild" comes from the German "Gilde". What is the name of the word "Gilde" in this case? Original, first or something else?
I tried to…
Fedor Pasynkov
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Are there clear exceptions to the alleged universality of "alphabet" as a term used in all languages
In the book The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood by James Gleick there is a bold claim:
In all the languages of earth there is only one word for alphabet (alfabet, alfabeto, алфавит, αλφάβητο).
How (in)accurate is this statement? As…
Brian Z
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Does this kind of simile have a more precise/specific name?
From the song If You Go Down (I’m Goin' Down Too) by Kelsea Ballerini
I've known you since Brad and Angelina
We go back like Pontiac seats
From You Need To Calm Down by Taylor Swift
You are somebody that I don't know
But you're takin' shots at me…
Joshua Frank
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Looking for examples of natural languages with affricates but no corresponding fricatives/plosives
I was thinking about how Spanish has a /t̠ʃ/ but (in most dialects) no /ʃ/, and how many native Spanish speakers have trouble producing the sound ʃ by itself. I don't see why this couldn't apply to other affricate-fricative pairs (ex: /ts/ with no…
pigi5
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Why is binarity emphasized so much in linguistics?
I'm an aspiring linguistics student, not a professional, so my thinking may be misguided or elementary.
In my personal research about linguistics, I have discovered many important theories and frameworks which seem to emphasize something binary,…
Graham H.
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Methods for meaning extraction
Let someone wants to know what some word (concrete as "chair" or abstract as "happiness") mean. What methods, experimental techniques are there for extracting word's meaning? I found next ways:
Study appropriate entries at various dictionaries…
drobnbobn
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Why do I intuitively seem to know the gender of inanimate objects?
Note to the Responder: This curiosity behind this question arose because of my (relative) proficiency in the Hindi language, but the answers need not be necessarily limited to it.
I am a complete noob with regards to linguistics, so please bear with…
VVidyan
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Constituent Order and Alignment
Seeing What might "S/A-V-O" and "A/S-V-O" mean? reminded me of something I've wondered at various points in the past. I'm familiar with the different clause constituent orders (SVO, SOV, etc.) and their relative frequencies. However all the…
Justin Olbrantz
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Why is Devanagari currently used for Sanskrit?
Sanskrit was originally an oral language. It began to be written in the Brahmi script and then over time, most of the Brahmi-derived scripts, Gupta, Siddham, Nagari, Devanagari, Purvi Nagari etc. were used to write Sanskrit. But today, Sanskrit…
Ishan Kashyap Hazarika
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What are the semantics of questions and requests/commands?
In linguistics, is it correct that statement i.e. declarative clause (sentence) has a truth value (true or false or maybe other value?) i.e. logic as its semantics?
What does a question (yes-no, or content one) have? Does its semantics correspond to…
Tim
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Is there any modern language that is currently shifting from one stage to the next in Jespersen's cycle?
Modern French seems to be going through the next stage in Jespersen's cycle, from Neg-V-Neg to V-Neg; i.e. Ce n'est pas toi to C'est pas toi.
What else is shifting from one to the next?
JYC
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What are the current views on the existence of a "zero article" in English?
As is well known, under certain circumstances in English, there can be acceptable noun phrases (NPs) that lack a determiner. Some cases include:
(i) "indefinite uncountable nominals" (There is water everywhere)
(ii) "indefinite plurals" (We are…
linguisticturn
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