Linguist - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A linguist is a person who studies language, including its structure, history, and usage. They may analyze sounds, grammar, or meaning, or compare different languages to understand their connections.
Definition:
A specialist in the study of language and its structure.
Synonyms:
language expert, philologist, polyglot, grammarian
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
layperson, illiterate
Common Collocations:
forensic linguist, computational linguist, linguistic analysis, linguistic research
Derivatives:
linguistic, linguistics, linguistically
Usage Tips:
Use "linguist" to refer to someone skilled in languages or language study, not just bilingual individuals.
Common Phrases:
armchair linguist, linguistic relativity, language acquisition
Etymology:
From Latin "lingua" meaning "tongue" or "language," and the suffix "-ist" denoting a practitioner.
Examples:
- 1. She is a renowned linguist specializing in Slavic languages.
- 2. The linguist analyzed ancient manuscripts for historical clues.
- 3. A good linguist understands both grammar and cultural context.
- 4. He became a linguist after studying several foreign languages.