Meaning & use
nonlexical
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivebefore a nountechnicalspecialist
not consisting of words from a language; relating to sounds that are not dictionary words
Grammar: Used mainly before a noun: nonlexical sounds, nonlexical fillers. It is not usually used after a verb.
Patterns
- nonlexical sounds
- nonlexical fillers
- nonlexical communication
The researcher counted nonlexical fillers such as 'um' and 'er' in each recording.
Babies use nonlexical sounds and gestures before they produce their first words.
In the transcript, sighs and laughter were marked as nonlexical items.
Common combinations
- nonlexical filler
- Speakers used fewer nonlexical fillers when they read from a script.
- nonlexical sound
- A sharp intake of breath is a nonlexical sound that can signal surprise.
- nonlexical communication
- Tone of voice and nonlexical communication carry a lot of meaning.
- nonlexical item
- Each nonlexical item in the recording was labeled by hand.
Synonyms and how they differ
- nonverbal
- Nonverbal covers all communication without words, including gestures and facial expressions, while nonlexical is narrower and focuses on sounds or items that are not words.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: nonlexical or non-verbal?
nonlexical vs non-verbal
Non-verbal is the everyday word for communication without words, such as gestures; nonlexical is a technical term for sounds that are not words.
Practice
In speech research, a sigh or a cough is usually classified as a ______ sound.
Choose one answer.
'Nonlexical' is correct because a sigh or cough is a sound but not a word. 'Lexical' means relating to words, 'literal' means taking words in their basic sense, and 'verbal' means relating to words or speech, so none of them fits a sound that is not a word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “nonlexical”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.