A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics David Crystal

descriptions of traditional approaches. The three main types of correspondence
proposed are: between labial consonants and rounded or labialized vocoids;
between coronal consonants and front vocoids; and between dorsal consonants
and back vocoids.
construction (n.) (1) In its most general sense in linguistics, ‘construction’
refers to the overall process of internal organization of a grammatical unit –
a sentence, for example, being built up (constructed) out of a set of morphemes
by the application of a set of rules. More specifically, it refers to the
syntagmatic result of such a process, a particular type of construction (a
constructional type or pattern) being defined as a sequence of units which has a
functional identity in the grammar of a language, such as subject+verb+
object (with reference to clauses), or determiner+noun (with reference to
phrases). Most specifically, it refers to a token of a constructional type, in the
sense of string, e.g. the + man + is + walking. It is constructions of this last
kind which are analysed into constituents, as in immediate-constituent
analysis. Constituents forming a syntactic relationship are said to be ‘in construction
with’ each other. Constructional homonymity refers to a grammatical
string with more than one interpretation in terms of the patterns of construction
it contains (as defined, say, by a phrase-structure grammar). In more
traditional grammatical terms, the string would be said to be ‘structurally
ambiguous’. For example, men and women in coats could be analysed as men
and [women in coats] (i.e. only the women have coats) or as men and women
[in coats] (they all have coats).
(2) In psycholinguistics, the term is often used as part of a theory of comprehension,
to refer to the psychological process of arriving at an interpretation
of sentences, based on the ability to identify and interrelate the various
elaments and levels of meaning involved (meaning construction).
constructional homonymity see construction (1)
contact 107
constructional schema
see cognitive grammar, schema
construe (v.) A traditional term in grammatical analysis, which refers to
the process of formally arranging words into constructional relationships,
and to the study and interpretation of these relationships. It has received a new
lease of life in generative syntax, where it is used to define the relationships
which are formed between certain types of constituents (antecedents and
anaphors) as a consequence of applying a transformational rule (rules of
construal). See also cognitive semantics.
consultant (n.)
see informant
contact (adj./n.) (1) A term used in sociolinguistics to refer to a situation of
geographical continuity or close social proximity (and thus of mutual influence)
between languages or dialects. The result of contact situations can be seen
linguistically, in the growth of loan words, patterns of phonological and
grammatical change, mixed forms of language (such as creoles and pidgins),
and a general increase in bilingualism of various kinds (see bilingual). In a