Longman Dictionary of

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open vowel n
also low vowel
see VOWEL
openings n
see CONVERSATIONAL OPENINGS
operant n
see OPERANT CONDITIONING
operant conditioning n
a learning theory proposed by Skinner within the context of behaviourist
psychology (see BEHAVIOURISM). It is a type of conditioning (see CON-
DITIONED RESPONSE) in which a child learning its first language produces
an action (e.g. an UTTERANCE) that achieves some outcome (e.g. to get
food). This action is called the operant. The outcome is positively reinforced
(positive reinforcement) if the operant is followed by something
pleasant, and negatively reinforced (negative reinforcement) if it is followed
by the removal of something unpleasant. This concept was influential
during the heyday of the AUDIOLINGUAL METHOD.
operating principle n
see HEURISTIC
operator
operational definition n operationalize v
a definition of a concept in terms which can be observed and measured.
In language teaching and language testing, many linguistic concepts need
to be operationalized. For example, terms such as “competence” and
“proficiency” need to be operationalized in preparing programme goals,
OBJECTIVEs, and test items.
operator n
(in English) the first AUXILIARY VERB to occur in a verb phrase, so called
because it is the verb which “operates” as the question-forming word, by
moving to the initial position in the sentence in questions. For example:
aHewill be coming
aux 1 aux 2
(operator)
b She couldn’t have been there.
aux 1 aux 2 aux 3
(operator)
a becomes Will he be coming?
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