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On the Definition of Word

On the Definition of Word is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand On the Definition of Word rather than just read about it. In short: On the Definition of Word is a 1987 book by Anna Maria Di Sciullo and Edwin S. Williams in which the authors examine the notion of word in linguistics.

On the Definition of Word — main illustration
On the Definition of Word — illustration

Key takeaways

  • On the Definition of Word belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect On the Definition of Word to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of On the Definition of Word from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

On the Definition of Word is a 1987 book by Anna Maria Di Sciullo and Edwin S. Williams in which the authors examine the notion of word in linguistics. They distinguish four concepts of "word": listemes, morphological objects, syntactic atoms, and phonological words. The authors' main claim is that there is a strict distinction between syntax and morphology.

Reception

Andrew Carstairs, Mark Baker, Sofia Ananiadou and Masayuki Ike-uchi have reviewed the book.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with On the Definition of Word

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what On the Definition of Word claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to On the Definition of Word before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about On the Definition of Word ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of On the Definition of Word

In research
On the Definition of Word appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses On the Definition of Word in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
On the Definition of Word is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1987 non-fiction books, Linguistics book stubs, MIT Press books, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for On the Definition of Word outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study On the Definition of Word in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what On the Definition of Word means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain On the Definition of Word out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is On the Definition of Word in simple terms?

On the Definition of Word is a 1987 book by Anna Maria Di Sciullo and Edwin S. Williams in which the authors examine the notion of word in linguistics.

Why does On the Definition of Word matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study On the Definition of Word?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on On the Definition of Word.

Tags

  • 1987 non-fiction books
  • Linguistics book stubs
  • MIT Press books
  • Morphology books
  • Syntax books
  • Words

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