Linguistic Description

A Linguistic Description is a linguistic item that is a descriptive representation (intended to describe some of the qualities of an entity to another linguistic agent).

• AKA: Describe, Descriptive Expression, Describing.
• Context:
  • It can be an Informal Definition.
• Example(s):
  • A news story describing an event.
  • A Word Definition.
  • A Descriptive Product Title.
  • …
• Counter-Example(s):
  • a Formal Definition.
• See: Definition, Explicit Referencer, Referring Expression, Definite Description, Indefinite Description, Descriptive Linguistics.

---

---

References

2009

• (WordNet, 2009) ⇒ http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=description
  • S: (n) description, verbal description (a statement that represents something in words)
  • S: (n) description (the act of describing something)
  • S: (n) description (sort or variety) "every description of book was there"
• http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Description
  • Noun
    • 1. A sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or representation in language; an enumeration of the essential qualities of a thing or species.
    • 2. The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.
    • 3. A set of characteristics by which someone or something can be recognized.
  • Usage:
    • “Based on her description of X, we ..."
    • “Although much of his description of X is accurate ..."
    • “A theoretical description of the new phases of liquid 3 He..”

2008

• (Bach, 2008) ⇒ Kent Bach. (2008). “On Referring and Not Referring.” In: Reference: Interdisciplinary Perspectives." Jeanette K. Gundel and Nancy Hedberg, editors. Oxford University Press.
  • QUOTE: Referring is not as easy as is commonly supposed. Much of what speaker do that passes for referring really isn't but is merely alluding or describing.

---