General language

General language

Use this category for general terms related to languages.

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General language

Condensation

Language; General language

This is a concept introduced by Freud for the psychoanalytical interpretation of dreams: in condensation, several thoughts are condensed into one symbol.

Complex sign

Language; General language

Saussure's term for a sign which contains other signs. A text is usually a complex sign.

Conative function

Language; General language

In Jakobson's model of linguistic communication this is deemed to be one of the key functions of a sign. This function involves the (usually implicit) construction of an addressee ('ideal reader').

Communication

Language; General language

From a semiotic perspective, communication involves encoding and decoding texts according to the conventions of appropriate codes (Jakobson).

Pundit

Language; General language

Either an expert or authority; or a person who makes judgements such as a critic or commentator. Pundit originates from the Hindi and Sanskrit words to mean 'learned man'.