metalinguistics

noun

meta·​lin·​guis·​tics ˈme-tə-liŋ-ˌgwi-stiks How to pronounce metalinguistics (audio)
plural in form but singular in construction
: a branch of linguistics that deals with the relation between language and other cultural factors in a society

Word History

Etymology

meta- + linguistics

Note: In this sense the term was probably introduced by the American linguist George L. Trager (1906-92) in "The Field of Linguistics," Studies in Linguistics: Occasional Papers, no. 1 (1949), p. 7.

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of metalinguistics was in 1949

Dictionary Entries Near metalinguistics

Cite this Entry

“Metalinguistics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metalinguistics. Accessed 10 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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