(linguistics, informal) Any linguistic enterprise employing introspection rather than empirical methods, such as elicitation.

Alternative form of crosslinguistic

A missionary who seeks to study a people's language in order to facilitate religious conversion.

Alternative spelling of missionary-linguist

(philosophy) The shift which occurred in philosophical attention, during the 20th century and within a number of philosophical schools of thought, from traditional themes of metaphysics and epistemology to a focus on the structure and usage of language and the relation of language to human understanding of those traditional themes.

linguist whose field is comparative linguistics.

A spatial conception of the character or use of language or languages.

plural of linguistic terrain

The levels of official use or representation of languages that are perceived not to reflect their use in the population.

(vulgar, colloquial, humorous, euphemistic) One who performs cunnilingus. / (literally, rare) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see cunning, linguist.