Glossary

Authentic language is produced by the native language users for communicative purposes in the natural settings

Classical grammar is a language theory producing a system of grammar norms derived from the written language

Cognitive linguistics studies the language as a tool of cognitive processes and language modelling of the real world

Communicative competence is the knowledge needed for successful communication

Communicative linguistics studies the language in the process of communication

Communicative teaching method is the way to teach languages through organised communication

Conversation analysis studies the ways humans communicate

Descriptive approach registers the authentic language use and selects conversational language for teaching.

Discourse analysis is the study into the cohesion, coherence and pragmatics of the text

Discourse is a piece of socially used language in a communicative setting

Frame is a stereotype in perceiving living beings, objects and processes of the real world

Grammar-translation method is the theory of language teaching, which was based on the language analysis and deductive (rules first) presentation of grammar

Idiom is an expression with the meaning that is not obtainable from the words in it

Interactional communication focuses on the interpersonal relationship and keeps the social contacts

Language is a system of arbitrary signs and rules to use them for the purpose of written and oral communication

Linguistic competence is the innate knowledge of grammar rules that enable the language user to produce an infinite number of correct sentences.

Linguistic performance is the use of language for communicative purposes

Mentalism studies “universal grammar” rules in the language users’ minds

Metaphor is a figure of speech, in which a word usually denoting a thing or idea is used to denote a dissimilar thing or idea through a shift in meaning

Natural approach to teaching languages is based on exposure to the comprehensible input of the whole language (e.g. submersion)

Pragmatics is the branch of linguistics that studies the relationship between the language and the intended communicative meaning

Prescriptive approach to grammar distinguishes between proper and improper use of the language grammar

Prototype is an original and most common case, from which other examples, variants and exceptions are made

Psycholinguistics studies the language as it develops, exists and functions in the language users’ minds

Schema (plural: schemata) is prior knowledge that channels cognitive processes of an individual

Script is a scenario of actions known to an individual in particular situations and associated with stereotypes of perception and behaviour

Semantics is the branch of linguistics that studies the relationship between meaning and form in the language

Sociolinguistics studies language varieties (individual, social, dialectal etc)

Transactional communication focuses on the message and on the business to be done