The SLMC Glossary gives explanatory comments on a number of words and concepts relating to linguistics for the benefit of users who do not have extensive knowledge of the field. The glossary can also be accessed by clicking on the words in the documents where they occur. Descriptive approach
| | The purpose of the descriptive approach is to describe the language of a community without passing judgment on usages. Those applying this approach describe the language objectively, as it is used by the members of the language community concerned. |
Differential lexicographic inventory
| A differential lexicographic inventory covers only words and meanings that differ from those of the reference language — for example, the French language of France in relation to the French language of Canada. In this case, a differential inventory will contain only elements of French specific to Canada, such as poudrerie, aréna,
cipaille, polyvalente and souffleuse, not words and usages that are shared with the French in use in France, such as table and chaise. |
General lexicographic inventory
| | A general inventory includes both usages specific to a region and those shared with the reference language. For example, a general dictionary will include the specific features of the French in use in Canada, such as poudrerie and aréna, along with usages shared with the French language of France, such as table and chaise. |
Lexicographic inventory
| | A lexicographic inventory is a list or collection of words or expressions in a language accompanied by a description of their form and meaning. An inventory may be differential or general. |
Management of language status
| | Management of language status involves management of the language, particularly by means of language legislation and policy, and promotion of the language by making language products and services available. It therefore bears on the relationship between the official language (or official languages, in the case of Canada) of an area and the other languages in use there. An example of language legislation is Canada’s Official Languages Act, passed in 1969 and amended in 1988. |
Management of linguistic code
| | Management of the linguistic code is a sector of language management involving development of the internal resources of a language. Its purpose is to ensure that the language is an effective means of communication. Specific activities subsumed under management of the linguistic code include: - description of concepts in specialized subject fields (terminology)
- description of words in general vocabulary (lexicology)
- creation of new words (neology)
- establishment of lexical and grammatical standards (standardization)
- development of a variety of language tools, such as grammars, linguistic databanks, writing guides and language technology tools
- production of dictionaries (lexicography) and specialized lexicons and glossaries (terminography)
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Prescriptive, normative or “corrective” approach
| | The purpose of the prescriptive or normative approach is to correct certain usages that are deemed to deviate from the standard and to prescribe or propose correct usage based on a specific implicit or explicit standard. The word “corrective” may also be used to describe works based on this approach. |
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