holophrase Definition
a single word that expresses a complex of ideas, as mama for 'my mother is here'.
Using holophrase: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "holophrase" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
In some languages, holophrases are used to convey entire sentences.
Example
The word 'ouch' is an example of a holophrase.
Example
A child's use of 'up' to mean 'pick me up' is a holophrase.
holophrase Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for holophrase
- monolexeme
- univerbation
Phrases with holophrase
one-word sentence
a sentence consisting of only one word, which can be a holophrase
Example
The word 'No' can be a one-word sentence.
pivot word
a word that can function as a holophrase in a given language
Example
In Mandarin Chinese, the word 'ma' can function as a pivot word.
speech that consists mainly of content words with little use of function words, often used by young children and individuals with certain language disorders
Example
A child saying 'daddy car go' instead of 'Daddy's car is going.'
Origins of holophrase
from Greek 'holos' meaning 'whole' and 'phrasis' meaning 'speech'
Summary: holophrase in Brief
A 'holophrase' [ˈhɒləfreɪz] is a single word that conveys a complex idea or sentence, such as 'mama' for 'my mother is here.' It is also known as a 'monolexeme' and 'univerbation.' Holophrases are common in some languages and in telegraphic speech, where function words are omitted. Examples include 'ouch' and a child's use of 'up' to mean 'pick me up.'
