What is a generic term?

A generic term is a noun or noun phrase that refers to

• a whole class, or
• any member of a class as a representative of its class.

• A lion is a noble beast.
• The lion is a noble beast.
• Lions are noble beasts.

• The lions are noble beasts.

  Source:

  Hawkins, J. 1978 214

• What is definiteness?

Crystal 1985 136

Mish 1991 510

Hawkins, J. 1978 214–215

Context for this page:

• Concept module: generic term
• In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): G
• In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
• In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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