Word Forms, Tokens, and Lexemes

A mental storehouse where words are kept in the mind.

A specific written or spoken form of a word. For instance, 'run' (verb) and 'runs' (verb) are two different word forms of the same lexeme.

An occurrence of a specific word form in a text or speech. For instance, the word 'run' appears twice in the sentence 'He ran quickly, but he couldn't run far'.

A basic unit of meaning that encompasses different word forms. For instance, 'run' (present tense) and 'ran' (past tense) are both forms of the same lexeme.

The study of word structure and how words are formed.

The study of the meaning of words.

The study of sentence structure.

The sound structure of a word. It analyzes how sounds are arranged in a word.

A word that has a predictable meaning based on its base form and suffixes, often derived from a root word. Such words don't needdictionary entries because their meaning can be inferred.

Units of language with unpredictable meanings. These words are often unique and require dictionary entries because their meaning cannot be easily deduced.

Words are basic units of language that have unpredictable meanings and are used to build phrases and sentences. They must be listed in dictionaries because their meanings cannot be deduced from their parts.

A set of rules that govern the pronunciation of words in a language.

A sound that is made by a blockage of air in the vocal tract, and then releasing it suddenly. This creates a short burst of sound. Examples include 'p', 't', and 'k'.

A sound that is made by vibrating the vocal cords when air is pushed through the mouth and nose. Examples include 'm', 'n', and 'ng'.

A sound that is made by allowing air to flow through the mouth freely, creating a continuous sound. Examples include 'f', 's', and 'th'.

A sound that is made by stopping the air completely and then releasing it slowly. Examples include 'b', 'd', and 'g'.

A sound that is made by stopping the air completely and then releasing it quickly. Examples include 'p', 't', and 'k'.

A sound that is made by positioning the tongue in such a way that it partially blocks the flow of air, causing a buzzing sound. Examples include 'v', 'z', and 'th' (as in 'this').

A sound that is made by positioning the tongue in such a way that it partially blocks the flow of air, creating a hissing sound. Examples include 'f', 's', and 'th' (as in 'thin').

A sound that is made by vibrating the vocal cords and allowing air to flow freely through the mouth. Examples include 'l', 'r', and 'w'.