vernacular
/və'nækjulə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Relating to everyday, informal, or native language: Describes language that is ordinary, natural, and spoken by the people of a particular region or group, as opposed to formal, literary, or learned language.
- Indigenous or local: Can describe something characteristic of a particular place or group.
Noun:
- The everyday speech of a people or a region: The native language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or area.
- The specialized language of a particular group: The jargon, slang, or idiom used within a specific profession, trade, or social group.
Examples of Usage
Adjective:
- The poet used vernacular expressions to make his work more accessible. (The poet used everyday language expressions to make his work more accessible.)
- This is a vernacular term for a local plant. (This is a common local name for a plant.)
Noun:
- The novel was written in the local vernacular, not in formal Latin. (The novel was written in the local everyday language, not in formal Latin.)
- It took me a while to understand the vernacular of software developers. (It took me a while to understand the specialized language of software developers.)
Advanced Usage
"In the vernacular": Expressed in ordinary, non-specialist language.
- The scientist explained the complex theory in the vernacular so everyone could understand. (The scientist explained the complex theory in plain language so everyone could understand.)
"Vernacular architecture": A term used to describe buildings constructed using local materials and traditional styles, reflecting local needs and culture.
- The tour focused on the island's vernacular architecture. (The tour focused on the island's traditional local building styles.)
Variants and Related Words
- Vernacularly (adverb): In a vernacular manner; using everyday language.
- The concept was explained vernacularly. (The concept was explained using common language.)
Synonyms
- Colloquial (adj.): Used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.
- Dialect (n.): A particular form of a language specific to a region or social group.
- Lingo (n.): Informal term for the vocabulary or jargon of a particular subject or group of people.
- Patois (n.): A dialect other than the standard or literary dialect.
Related Phrases
Common parlance: The way in which ordinary people talk; everyday language.
- In common parlance, this device is just called a "phone." (In everyday language, this device is just called a "phone.")
The vulgar tongue: An older term for the common spoken language of the people (note: "vulgar" here means "of the common people," not offensive).
- The Bible was translated into the vulgar tongue so more people could read it. (The Bible was translated into the common language so more people could read it.)
Adjective
- being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language
- common parlance
- a vernacular term
- vernacular speakers
- the vulgar tongue of the masses
- the technical and vulgar names for an animal species
Noun
- the everyday speech of the people (as distinguished from literary language)
- a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)
- they don't speak our lingo