Wada test
A test to determine which hemisphere is language dominant in an individual. It is performed with an injection of sodium amytal which deactivates the ipsilateral hemisphere. If this happens to be the language dominant hemisphere, speech should be affected. (neurolinguistics)
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Wave Model
A way of representing language change using intersecting circles. This model emphasizes the interaction of neighboring languages with specific innovations spreading outward from a common source. (historical)
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Weak Suppletion
When an inflected/derived word form cannot be derived from current phonological processes but the root form does resemble the derived form (Ex. destroy–>destruction; see Strong Suppletion.) (morphology)
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Wernicke’s aphasia
(also called fluent aphasia) A type of aphasia characterized by relatively fluent, nonsensical speech and poor comprehension. (neurolinguistics)
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Wernicke’s area
An area of the brain named after Carl Wernicke that is located on the left hemisphere of the back of the temporal lobe (posterior region of the superior temporal gyrus). The exact size and position of this area is controversial since brains and lesions vary in size and because the…
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Wh-in-Situ
The situation in which the wh-phrase or interrogative word phrase remains in the same position where the constituent it questions would occur in a declarative sentence, with no overt wh-movement taking place. (syntax)
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Wh-Movement
A wh-phrase moves to Spec, CP. (syntax)
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Wh-Parameter
Overt or covert wh-movement. (syntax)
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Whine/Wine Merger
Dialects of English where “whine” and “wine” are pronounced the same ([waɪn]) have undergone the ‘whine/wine merger.’ (sociolinguistics)
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Whole Language
A pedagogical method and philosophy, where the focus is on recognizing the whole word as a unit for pronunciation and how that unit works within a whole text, i.e., the semantics of the word within the pragmatics of the context. This contrasts with a more phonics-based instruction method. (language acquisition)
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