Feature Of Speech (Noun)
Meaning
(linguistics) a distinctive characteristic of a linguistic unit that serves to distinguish it from other units of the same kind.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- One feature of speech in a particular accent is a diphthong in the word "boat" that more standard speakers do not have.
- Linguists have identified several features of speech that are more common in the speech of rural dwellers than in that of urban residents.
- A key feature of speech in some dialects of English is the use of a glottal stop instead of a /t/ sound in certain positions.
- Features of speech such as vowel shift or consonant mutation can give away a speaker's regional origin.
- A notable feature of speech in some slangs is the use of backchannels or filler words to indicate engagement and attention.