Talk:Transparency (linguistic)

Descriptive, current
Semantic transparency is a descriptive phrase that has been used in linguistics to describe endocentric compounds. Endocentric compound words are those whose whole meaning can be figured out by an analysis of its parts or "morphemes". An example of an endocentric compound is the word "car-wash". By contrast, some compound words are exocentric, meaning their whole meaning cannot be established by an analysis of parts; for example, the word "hogwash". Exocentric words are also known as semantically opaque.

Descriptive
Another mode of linguistic transparency is the descriptive. Language wholes and parts, themes and arguments, ought to but often don't, convey adequate language imagery, importances and understood semantics. Unknown languages, exotic designs, nonsense, rejected arguments and even commonplaces, language use can be opaque and deflect understanding, unless surmounted by the receiver.

Descriptive linguistic transparency denotes a 'structural' description of speech examples. Many compound words are endocentric and their meaning can be determined by analysis of parts or morphemes. An endocentric compound shows its end on center, a sense conforming to its Greek origins. Two examples, "lion-house" and "car-wash" can be seen as endocentric. Their meaning is further illustrated by structural description (e.g., the first noun modifies the second noun) or deeper syntax. All parts of speech can work in compounding words, and are apparently susceptible to copyright claims.

Many compound words and phrases are exocentric (and not transparent). In this case, their meaning is not easily discernable. Exocentric compounds are out of center (from Greek exo centron). For example, the word "hogwash" [enUS] is now exocentric, but historically came from a metaphor, absorbed bullshit, and then blended. It is similar in this sense to an idiom. A new speaker of English wouldn't at first realize that "hogwash" now refers to human rhetorical waste as its origin in pig shit soil water is increasingly forgotten.

Sensibly perhaps, both the words "exocentric" and "endocentric" are themselves endocentric.

Idioms and exocentric words are semantically opaque due to buried internal structure, or forgotten origins. The use of jargon also acts contrary to clear description and linguistic transparency by making established domains of language look opaque to non-users. Purposeful use of jargon may serve normative or demographic-fitting goals.