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Glite Dictionary
nonlexical

nonlexical

8.8
Not about words or word meanings and often about sounds and grammar
  • adjective
  • /nɒnˈlɛksɪkəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : no léxico
  • The child's laughter contained many nonlexical sounds that expressed joy without words.

Examples

  • During the dance performance, the singer used nonlexical vocalizations to convey emotion.

  • In some languages, gestures can have a nonlexical meaning, replacing the need for words.

  • Nonlexical onomatopes, the sonic connotations of these words nonetheless imbue them with a sort of onomatopoeic aura: Noise, Scream, Radio, Explosion, Voltage, Volume.

    Academic text (2005)

Synonyms

wordless
vsnonlexical
9 4.1

A look or action that shows feeling without words

is about not relating to words or vocabulary rather than only absence of words
nondiscursive
vsnonlexical
  • Literature
9.9

Made clear by feelings or senses instead of words

is about not relating to words or vocabulary rather than the nonverbal channel
non-language
vsnonlexical
7.1

Expressed without spoken or written words, using gestures, images and sounds

is focused on relation to words and vocabulary rather than nonverbal forms
nonlinguistic
vsnonlexical
  • Specialized
6.8

Not about language, for example gestures and facial expressions

is narrower, pointing to relation with words and vocabulary specifically
extralinguistic
vsnonlexical
  • Specialized
9.8

Not part of words or grammar and exists outside speech and writing

is more about relation to words or vocabulary than being outside language

Antonyms

lexical
3 6.9

Relating to the words and their meanings in a language

How Verbal

verbal
37 3.2
lexical
3 6.9
nonverbal
8 3.7
nonlexical
  • Specialized
8.8

Surface Forms

nonlexical positive

Morphology

nonlexical = lexical (transparent) = non + lexical

The prefix 'non-' clearly negates the meaning of 'lexical', making the overall meaning straightforward.

Etymology

The word nonlexical is made of the parts non- 'not' and lexical 'about words', the same root you see in lexicon 'dictionary', so it describes sounds or features that are 'not expressed as words' or 'not part of a language's vocabulary'.