Linguistic Symbol

A Linguistic Symbol is an indivisible symbol that serves as a fundamental linguistic unit for creating linguistic utterances (within linguistic expression systems of natural languages and constructed languages).

• AKA: Language Symbol, Linguistic Unit, Elementary Linguistic Sign.
• Context:
  • It can typically represent Linguistic Meaning through linguistic conventions.
  • It can typically combine with other Linguistic Symbols through linguistic combination rules.
  • It can typically belong to a Linguistic Symbol System through linguistic categorization.
  • It can typically convey Linguistic Information through linguistic encoding.
  • It can typically participate in Linguistic Patterns through linguistic structures.
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  • It can often carry Linguistic Distinction through linguistic contrasts.
  • It can often undergo Linguistic Variation through linguistic contexts.
  • It can often support Linguistic Function through linguistic roles.
  • It can often enable Linguistic Communication through linguistic channels.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Simple Linguistic Symbol to being a Complex Linguistic Symbol, depending on its linguistic symbol internal structure.
  • It can range from being a Universal Linguistic Symbol to being a Language-Specific Linguistic Symbol, depending on its linguistic symbol cross-linguistic applicability.
  • It can range from being a Concrete Linguistic Symbol to being an Abstract Linguistic Symbol, depending on its linguistic symbol perceptual manifestation.
  • It can range from being a Productive Linguistic Symbol to being a Frozen Linguistic Symbol, depending on its linguistic symbol combinatorial freedom.
  • It can range from being a Primary Linguistic Symbol to being a Secondary Linguistic Symbol, depending on its linguistic symbol derivational status.
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  • It can have Linguistic Symbol Properties for linguistic symbol identification.
  • It can require Linguistic Symbol Context for linguistic symbol interpretation.
  • It can exhibit Linguistic Symbol Behavior in linguistic symbol combinations.
  • It can undergo Linguistic Symbol Change through linguistic evolution processes.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Phonological Linguistic Symbols, such as:
    • Segmental Linguistic Symbols, such as:
      • Phoneme, representing linguistic sound distinctions.
      • Tone, representing linguistic pitch patterns.
      • Stress Pattern, representing linguistic prominence distribution.
    • Suprasegmental Linguistic Symbols, such as:
      • Intonation Pattern, conveying linguistic prosodic meaning.
      • Rhythm Unit, organizing linguistic temporal structure.
  • Orthographic Linguistic Symbols, such as:
    • Alphabetic Linguistic Symbols, such as:
      • Letter, representing linguistic phoneme correspondence.
      • Diacritic, modifying linguistic letter value.
      • Ligature, combining linguistic letter forms.
    • Non-Alphabetic Linguistic Symbols, such as:
      • Logogram, representing linguistic word meaning.
      • Ideogram, conveying linguistic conceptual content.
      • Pictogram, depicting linguistic referents.
  • Morphological Linguistic Symbols, such as:
    • Bound Morphemes, such as:
      • Prefix, modifying linguistic word beginnings.
      • Suffix, modifying linguistic word endings.
      • Infix, modifying linguistic word interiors.
    • Free Morphemes, such as:
      • Root, carrying linguistic core meaning.
      • Function Word, providing linguistic grammatical relations.
  • Gestural Linguistic Symbols (Sign Languages), such as:
    • Hand Configuration, encoding linguistic manual features.
    • Movement Pattern, conveying linguistic dynamic meaning.
    • Facial Expression, adding linguistic grammatical information.
  • Digital Linguistic Symbols (21st Century), such as:
    • Emoji, expressing linguistic emotional content.
    • Hashtag, marking linguistic topic categorization.
    • Mention Symbol (@), indicating linguistic addressee reference.
  • Punctuation Linguistic Symbols, such as:
    • Period, marking linguistic sentence boundary.
    • Question Mark, indicating linguistic interrogative mood.
    • Quotation Mark, delimiting linguistic reported speech.
  • Mathematical Linguistic Symbols (in Mathematical Language), such as:
    • Plus Sign (+), representing linguistic addition operation.
    • Equals Sign (=), expressing linguistic equality relation.
    • Integral Symbol (∫), denoting linguistic integration concept.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Non-Linguistic Symbol, which lacks linguistic communicative function.
  • Linguistic Expression, which combines multiple linguistic symbols rather than being indivisible.
  • Paralinguistic Feature, which accompanies but doesn't constitute linguistic symbol systems.
  • Random Mark, which lacks linguistic systematic meaning.
  • Icon, which relies on visual resemblance rather than linguistic convention.
  • Natural Sign, which indicates through causal relation rather than linguistic code.
• See: Symbol, Linguistic Unit, Linguistic Component, Natural Language, Linguistic Expression, Phoneme, Grapheme, Morpheme, Sign, Linguistic System, Semiotics, Language, Writing System, Phonological System.

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