A Brief Word

It should be kept in mind that some of the definitions of these words will differ significantly from those with which you are familiar; such is the relationship between everyday language (la langue) and specialist terminology (la parole). More than this, I do not expect that even on these grounds the definitions may be taken as standard. As such, they reflect my idiolect as far as I am able to perform meta-linguistic analysis on it. I hope that despite all these excuses this lexicon will be of some help in elucidating my intended message. Words to add : extracoding, undercoding, overcoding, polysemy, langue, parole, paralinguistics, kinesics, proxemics, epistemic, structuralist, repertory grid, catachresis, phatic, hagiography, indexible, instructivist, constructivist, metonymic, amphiboly, mathemagenic, mathetics (computational), monogenetic hypothesis, pedadogenic, iatrogenic, HyperNews, RepGrid

Adolschein.

Talk a lot of nonsense.

Adumbrate.

Foreshadow, sketchily outline (adumbral). Report or present in outline (formal).

Afferent.

Conducting inwards or towards (opp. efferent)

ALT

Alternative Learning Technology (ALT)

Amanuensis.

One employed to copy what another has written. A secretary who can write rapidly enough to record dictation verbatim.

Amphiboly.

(also amphibology, adj. amphibolic) Ambiguity of meaning due to context. The use of ambiguous or quibbling phrases or statements.

Amphigory.

Nonsense. A meaningless hotchpotch

Analecta.

Literary gleanings of passages or extracts from one or more authors.

Analysand.

Person analyzed or undergoing psychoanalysis.

Anamnesis.

Recollection (Plato's 'Meno' and 'Pheadrus') of things from a supposed previous existence. The adjective, anamnestic, is normally used in medicine to denote the enhance reaction of the body's immune system to an antigen which is related to one previously encountered.

Anaphora.

Anaphora is coreference of one expression with its antecedent. The antecedent provides the information necessary for the expression’s interpretation. This is often understood as an expression “referring” back to the antecedent. Pronominal repetition referring backwards see cataphora and exophora.

Anastrophe.

Word order inverted.

Anfractuous.

Having windings and turnings.

Apodictic.

Demonstrable; and hence, incontrovertable, incontestable. Apophasis. 'Not to mention...X'.

Apothegms.

Terse or pithy sayings.

Apposition.

Words or expressions placed next to each other, the second explaining the first e.g. My friend Sue.

Argosy.

Richly laden ship. Arrogate. Claim unduly.

Asseverations.

Solemn declarations. To affirm earnestly. Attributes Variable specified in the start tag of the element identified by a name-value pair.

Auscultation.

Listening to internal body sounds as an aid to diagnosis.

Autopoiesis.

The process by which an organism reproduces itself recursively. Such an organism must be an autonomous and self-maintaining unity. Examples include cells, organisms, computer viruses and perhaps organizations. This can be related to Dawkin's idea of memes.

AWT

Abstract Window Toolkit, a cross-platform UI framework developed for Java.

Boondoggle.

A meaningless or tedious task or activity - or to be engaged in such. Trivial or useless work carried out to give the appearance of being busy. To perform such work.

Bourn.

Bound limit; goal.

Brachylogy.

Brevity of speech; a concise means of expression.

Carrel.

(Or carrell) Small space between library stack reserved and intended for private study.

Catachresis.

Improper use of a word (pl. catachreses).

Cataphasia.

A disorder of speech marked by constant repetition of a word or phrase (see verbigeration).

Cataphora.

Cataphora is the coreference of one expression with another expression which follows it. The following expression provides the information necessary for interpretation of the preceding one. This is often understood as an expression “referring” forward to another expression. Pronominal repetition referring forwards.

CDATA

Character data that exist in an XML document within CDATA sections. E.g. <!CDATA[character data...]>

Chrestomathy.

Collection of choice passages or excerpts from literary works, esp. in a foreign language.

Comment

A node in the XML/DTD document identified with a structure.

Conspectus.

A synopsis or summary; survey or review. Digest or summary.

Content

Data between the start-tag and the end-tag.

Deixis.

The function or use of deictic words, forms, or expressions. Deictic : of, or relating to, or denoting a word or expression whose meaning is dependent on the context in which it is used. Also called indexical.

Desideratum.

Something wanted or earnestly missed.

Dialectic.

Based on the concept of advancing contradictory arguments, thesis and antithesis, and resolving through synthesis (after Hegel). Historically this has come to be used as the process of finding truth through dialogue.

Dianoetic.

Pertaining to discursive reasonings. Logical rather than intuitive.

Discursive.

Rambling not sticking to the point; without apparent organization.

Disquisition.

Formal enquiry into or discussion of a subject. A treatise examining or discussing a subject.

Dissemination.

The name given to the initial prototype computer system implementing a database of disseminules, in various media formats, linked to a set of course notes. Led to the development of Recherché.

Disseminule.

A segment of vicarious discourse, delivered in any media format, following the form of a Task Directed Discussion. (Botany) a part of a plant that serves to propagate it, such as a seed or a fruit. ['disseminare' L. scattered from 'dis' abroad + 'semen/semin' seed]

Divagate.

Wander or stray from the point; esp. in speech (n. divagation)

DOM

The Document Object Model is a platform-and language-neutral interface that will allow programs and scripts to dynamically access and update the content, structure and style of documents. The document can be further processed and the results of that processing can be incorporated back into the presented page. The Document Object Model (DOM) provides a common API for software developers and web script authors to access and manipulate parsed HTML and XML content inside conforming products. All markups as well as any document type declarations are made available. (This text is taken from the DOM Working Draft)

DTD

Document Type Definition, defines the tags and the grammar for an XML Document.

Dystopian.

The antonym of utopian.

Effable.

Able to be described in words.

Efferent.

Conducting outwards.

Eidetic.

Having unusual vividness and detail as if actually visible.

Eisegesis.

(pl. eisegeses) a biased interpretation.

Elastomer.

Substance tending to return to original form after stretching.

Element

Part of an XML Document identified by a start tag.

Elenchus.

(Logic) Form of syllogism in refutation. A logical refutation; a false refutation. Socratic elenchus : the Socratic method of eliciting truth by question and answer, especially as used to refute an argument.

Empty Element

Element without an end-tag. (See element)

Endophora.

(Linguistics) Endophora is coreference of an expression with another expression either before it or after it. One expression provides the information necessary to interpret the other. The set of relationships among words having the same reference within a text, contributing to textual cohesion; anaphora and cataphora. Compare to exophora.

Entoptic.

(within vision) images occurring or originating in the eyes. Produced by the basic neural architecture of the brain. Of bodily organs, in the normal place.

Epexegesis.

Amplification, emphasis, explaining one word/phrase in terms of another (in other words, that is, namely, because...). Fuller statement. The addition of words to clarify meaning. Words added for such a purpose.

Epigone.

One of later (and less distinguished) generation. A disciple of a famous writer , etc., not famous in his own right.

Epistemology.

Theory of methods or grounds of knowledge and its limitations or scope. The study of the theory of the nature or grounds of knowledge, especially with reference to its extensional truth value.

Equipollent.

Equally effective in force or meaning; equivalent.

Evanescent.

tending to vanish like vapour; transient

Evince.

Demonstrate convincingly, show clearly.

Excogitate.

Think out, devise (with intentness and objectivity)

Exophora.

(Linguistics) Reference in a text or utterance to something external to it, which is only fully intelligible in terms of information about the extralinguistic situation (see deixis). Compare to endophora.

Exordium.

Introductory part of discourse or treatise. A beginning

Exoteric.

Intelligible to outsiders, ordinary popular simple. Especially of a doctrine or mode of speech) Intended for or likely to be understood by the general public. The opposite of esoteric.

Expatiate.

Elaborate, speak or write more fully or in detail.

Feuilleton.

Novel, printed in installments.

Fragestellung.

A shared visualization or understanding of the underlying issues of a particular knowledge domain.

Fustigate.

To criticize severely.

Gause.

Clumsiness of sound rather than of a physical kind.

Glottonym.

Adoption of word in one language to spelling in another.

Gnome.

Wise saying or maxim.

Heteronym.

(Linguistic) each of two or more words which are used to refer to the identical thing in different geographical areas of a speech community (cf. paronym and homonym). E.g. isomorphic (maths) or functional mapping (computing).

Homologous.

Having the same relative position, value and function within a semantic structure. Thus comparisons can be made between disparate structures as a means to explore the nature of either model and their intentional purport.

Homonym.

(Linguistics) Each of two or more words having the same spelling and punctuation but different meanings and origins (e.g. scaffolding).

Hypostatis

(Metaphysics) underlying substance

HTML

Hyper Text Markup Language, the de facto language for the web to display hyper-linked documents.

Idiolect.

The speech habits peculiar to a particular person. A language shared by a very small community and here meaning a personal language or means of expression of one person.

Interstice.

An intervening space, especially a small one. (adj. interstitial)

Intramural.

Situated or done within the walls of a building. (Within the same school, college.)

Isagoge.

An introduction as to a work of research (isagogic).

Isomorphism.

One-to-one correspondence between two comparative structures or models.

Labile.

Liable to change, easily altered. Unstable (chemical).

Laconic.

(of a person, speech or style of writing) Using very few words. Terse and meaningful.

Lagan.

Goods or wreckage on the bed of the sea.

Lassitude

languor; disinclination to exert or interest oneself

LERCOR

Learning Environment Resource Capture fOr Reuse. Uses Vicarious Learning to explore and exploit the potential of observational learning. These are the tools and techniques to harness the potential of learning from other people's learning experiences. From knowledge management through to applications in epistemic games we aim to maximise the learning potential of all individuals, communities and organisations.

Limn.

Depict or describe in paining or words. Describe, portray, point or draw. To picture in a drawing or in words.

Locus.

(pl. loci) A particular position, point, or place. Locus classicus : a passage considered to be the best known or most authorative on a particular subject.

Look-And-Feel

Refers to the Graphic User nterface.

Loquacious

talkative and wordy?

Lucubration.

Laborious study, meditation of a topic. Nocturnal study. The literary work of a pedantic character. Lucubrate : discourse learnedly in writing.

Luculent.

(of writing or speech) clearly expressed.

Mark-up

Tags in XML file which could be elements, comments, processing instructions etc.

Metastatis.

(Gk., 'a changing') A cursory treatment of a matter, a glossing over as if it were of no importance.

Metathesis.

The transposition of letters or sounds of a word.

Nascent.

(especially of a process or organization) just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential. In the process of birth; just beginning to be.

Neophyte.

A person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief. New convert; beginner.

Nescient.

Ignorant. Lacking knowledge (nescience)

Nolens-volens.

Will-nilly.

Nostrum.

A medicine prepared by an unqualified person, especially one that is not considered effective. A pet scheme of favourite remedy e.g. Socratic discourse! A remedy, scheme, etc., intended to solve all problems; panacea.

Nugatory.

Worthless, meaningless, insignificant. e.g. a nugatory and pointless observation.

Observational Learning.

The educational development of an individual's understanding and knowledge due to their having observed some c in another individual. Normally understood to result from some form of behavioural modeling.

Omphalos.

The center of hub of something.

Omphaloskepsis.

Navel contemplation.

Ontological

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Opiscule.

Small, trifling work.

Oppugn.

Controvert, call into question.

Ossify.

Turn to bone, harden; make or become rigid.

Panegyric.

Laudatory discourse, eulogy in praise of something or someone.

Panegyrize

speak or write in praise of something, eulogize.

Paraclete.

One called upon to help or to intercede.

Paradigm.

A set of linguistic items that form mutually exclusive choices in particular syntactic roles.

Paradigmatic

of or denoting the relationship between a set of linguistic items that form mutually exclusive choices in particular syntactic roles. Contrasted with syntagmatic.

Paragraphia.

Miswriting of words or phrases normally caused by cerebral injury. The mental disorder characterized by the inability to put thoughts into writing or the writing of words or letters different from those intended.

Paralogism.

Reasoning that is faulty or illogical. (Paralogize) To draw illogical conclusions from a set of facts or assumptions.

Parapraxis.

Mishaps in actions speech or memory.

Paronomasia.

Playing on words, pun esp. when considered as a technical rhetorical device.

Paronym.

(Linguistic) Word derived from the same root as another and having a related meaning.

Pasigraphy.

(Linguistic) a written language, or international alphabet, which is not required to be spoken (see Eco, 1997, p.197).

PCData

Content represented by text. (See content)

Pedagogical

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Peripatetic.

Itinerant, going from place to place (describing the manner in which Aristotle conducted his arguments whilst walking about).

Periphrasis.

Wordiness, circumlocution (verbiage). Roundabout speech or an instance of it.

Perseveration.

(Psychology) Recurrence in the mind of some thought, experience, etc.. (in psychology) the continuation or recurrence of movement, speech, etc., in the absence of the provoking stimulus.(perseverate)

Phlegmatic.

Emotional unresponsive.

Phronesis.

Wisdom in deciding aims and the ways of achieving them.

PI

See Processing Instruction.

Pleach.

To intertwine the branches of.

Plexus.

Network, complicated interconnection of parts (see reticulation). (plexal)

Plurisignation.

Ambiguity that is of an [?author xyz?], where author is the target and xyz is the value.

Polemic.

Controversial, disputatious.

Polysemy

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Portmanteau.

Invented word combining the sounds and meaning of two others.

Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.

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Processing Instruction

Markup in an XML document identified by a name and a value. E.g. >,!,[,],?,=,".

 

Prolepsis.

(Rhetoric) The anticipation and answering of possible objections in rhetorical speech. The representation of a thing as existing before it actually does so or did so. Future event referred to as if it had already happened.

Prolix

Lengthy, longwinded, tedious

Propaedeutic.

(Of an area of study) serving as a preliminary instruction or as an introduction to further study. Elementary instruction. Relating to or like introductory instruction, as to some art or science (propaedeutical)

Pullulate.

Breed or spread so as to become extremely common. Grow or multiply rapidly.

Purview.

The scope of the influence or concerns of something. A range of experience or thought

Quod non est in actis, non est in mundo.

'What is not recorded simply does not exist.'

Raciocinate.

To reason, esp. by using formal logic.

Ramose.

Branched, branching. Bearing many branches.

Recherché.

The name given to the second, Java-based, prototype computer system implementing a database of disseminules linked to a set of course notes. An OO approach based on the experience gained from the implementation of the Dissemination system.

Recondite.

Abstruse, obscure. Concerning or involved with abstruse or little difficult subjects; esoteric, little known, obscure.

Recusant.

A person who refuses to obey authority. A nonconformist.

Reify.

Convert mentally into a thing. To make concrete or more real something abstract, concretize (reification).

Reticulum.

'the Net'. Fine network or netlike structure. Any structure or system resembling a network. Reticular Formation in the brain, mediating the overall level of consciousness.

Sagacious.

Having or showing insight and practical wisdom, seeming to reason.

Sapient.

Wise.

Scabrous.

Difficult to deal with. Full of difficulties.

Screed.

Writing that is long and tiresome. A long and tedious letter, essay, discourse, or the like.

Sedulous.

Persevering, diligent, assiduous, painstaking.

Sequacious.

(of a person) lacking independence or originality of thought. Given to following another (slavishly).

Seriatim.

In a series. Singly in succession.

SGML

Standard Generalized Markup Language, the international standard for describing descriptions of the structure and content of different types of electronic documents.

Shibboleth.

Catchword (esp. outworn) formula insisted on by groups. A password, belief or favourite phrase of a party or sect.

Simulacrum.

Shadowy likeness, deceptive substitute, mere pretence (pl. simulacra). A supposed, superficial, or deceptive likeness or semblance. In Baudrillard it is taken to mean something of which there are many copies, but no original.

Solecism.

Offence against grammar, idiom, etiquette etc..

Soma sema.

The Gnostic phrase for the 'body tomb' of the soul.

Sophism.

Specious, but fallacious argument or belief.

Structuralism

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Swing

A lightweight UI framework for Java used as an alternative to AWT.

Syllepsis.

A figure of speech in which a word is applied to two others in different senses (e.g. caught the train and a cold this evening) or to two others of which it grammatically suits only one (e.g. neither they nor it is working). Compare with zeugma.

Syllogism.

(in logic) a form of reasoning in which the conclusion is drawn from two premises which have a term in common. A subtle or specious argument.

Symbol

Special tokens appearing in the XML document e.g. and-both nature as opposed to either-or.

Syncretize.

Reconcile and blend, as various philosophies. The reconciliation of or attempt to reconcile diverse or opposite beliefs, or groups, esp. in philosophy (syncretism). (Linguistics) The merging of different inflectional varieties of a word during the development of a language. (Gk. 'unite against a third party')

Synecdoche.

Figure of speech in which part or individual is put for whole or class.

Syntagm.

A linguistic unit consisting of a set of linguistic forms (phonemes, words, or phrases) that are in a sequential relationship to one another. Often contrasted with paradigm.

Syntagmatic

of or denoting the relationship between two or more linguistic units used sequentially to make well formed structures.

Syntony.

(psychology) of a person : responsive to and in harmony with their environment so that affect is appropriate to their given situation. (syntonic)

Task Directed Discussion.

A discussion that follows an explicit discourse game-like format. Each discussion has a specific discourse goal based around the manipulation of an explicit set of topic loci or syntagms. Further, each task is game like in that one person issues a challenge to another to achieve the discussion goal to the issuers satisfaction.

Teknonymy.

The primitive custom of giving a child's name to its parent.

Telarian.

Of, or pertaining to, or characteristic of a web. (Spider) Web-spinning, spinning web. Though here I mean the Web.

Teleonomic.

Goal directed, functional and evolutionary goals.

Tellurian.

Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Earth. In use I apply it to mean traditional research resources based rather than those available through networked resources, i.e. those that exist on the WWW.

Tendentious.

Calculated to advance a cause, having an underlying purpose.

Tyro.

A beginner (tiro).

URL

Uniform Resource Locator, method for specifying a file by its protocol, location and name

Usufruct.

The right to use or benefit from something which belongs to another, short of destroying or harming it. Right of temporary possession or use. Employment of another property.

Valid XML

An XML Document which is well formed and conforms to a specified Document Type Definition or Schema (See Well formed XML)

Verbigeration.

The habit of repeating favourite words or expressions. Unwittingly repeat sentence.

Verbile.

Person whose mental processes are most easily stimulated by words.

Verisimilitude.

The relation of something to the truth. Some measure of veracity.

.

The educational development of an individual's repertoire of meta-cognitive proficiency due to their having observed some other individual's behavioural strategies. Normally understood to result from some form of cognitive modeling. [experience in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person]

Vicarious.

There are three meanings of which the first two are intended by the title ‘Vicarious Learner Group', these are: i) performed or suffered by one in service of another, and ii) experienced through imagined or sympathetic participation with another. The third meaning may be worth dwelling on: iii) occurring in an unexpected or abnormal part of the body (instead of the usual one). Virement. Application of resources intended for one end to the purposes of another.

Vissitude.

Mutation, mutatability.

Vitiate.

Impair quality or corrupt, abase, spoil.

Viviparous.

Bringing forth young in a developed state; rather than eggs.

Well-formed XML

An XML Document that is syntactically correct. (See XML)

XML

The eXtensible Markup Language is designed to provide an easy-to-write, easy-to-interpret, and easy-to-implement subset of SGML. It is not a fixed format like HTML, it is designed so that certain groups can create their own particular markup languages that meet their needs more quickly, efficiently and logically.

Zetetic.

Proceeding by enquiry. Inquiring (person). Search.

Zeugma.

Lit. device of using one word to modify two other words with only one of which it is correctly used. Single word applied to two thoughts, with the linkage to one of them incorrect. A figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses (e.g. John and his driving license expired last week) or to two others of which it semantically suits only one (e.g. With weeping eyes and heart). Compare with syllepsis.