non-linguistic
/ˌnɒn.lɪŋˈɡwɪs.tɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌnɑːn.lɪŋˈɡwɪs.tɪk/ (ame, ipa)
non-linguistic — adjective
1. describing things such as pictures, sounds, gestures, or facial expressions that
describing things such as pictures, sounds, gestures, or facial expressions that do not use words to communicate or carry meaning.
Putri studies how babies use non-linguistic signals like pointing and smiling before they can speak.
academic context: non-linguistic + communication noun (signals, cues, behaviour)
Music and painting are powerful non-linguistic forms of expression that anyone can enjoy.
predicative-style with art-domain nouns: non-linguistic forms / arts / media
The teacher relied on non-linguistic cues, such as a smile or a frown, to guide her young students.
Rodrigo noticed that his dog responds well to non-linguistic commands, like hand signals during walks.
Across cultures, a warm hug or a bow can serve as a non-linguistic greeting between strangers.
- nonverbal
more common in everyday speech; often used of human body language
- wordless
more literary; emphasises silence rather than absence of language
- extralinguistic
technical academic term; means 'outside language' in linguistic analysis
- linguistic
relating to or using words and language
- verbal
using spoken or written words
用法筆記
Subject is usually an abstract communication noun (signal, cue, gesture, expression, behaviour, communication, form). Frequently attributive; rare predicatively in everyday speech. Common in academic writing about psychology, education, and animal behaviour.