Language Learning Terminology

adjective relating to a person or thing that is not indigenous or native to a particular place

• The university offers language courses for non-native speakers.
• She's a non-native English speaker, but she speaks fluently.
• I can always tell when someone is a non-native speaker by their accent.
• Being a non-native in a foreign country can be challenging but also rewarding.

noun a person who is fluent in six or more languages

• The conference featured a panel discussion with a renowned hyperpolyglot who could speak over 20 languages fluently.
• My friend is such a hyperpolyglot, she can easily switch between different languages in a single conversation.
• That guy is a total language nerd, a real hyperpolyglot who can pick up new languages in no time.
• In the world of coding, he is considered a hyperpolyglot for his ability to master multiple programming languages effortlessly.

adverb relating to or characterized by accent; in terms of accent

• The accentually correct pronunciation of the word is crucial in language learning.
• She accentually nailed the regional dialect during her trip.
• I'm trying to accentually pick up the local lingo to fit in better.
• His unique way of speaking accentually sets him apart from the rest.

noun a grammatical case in some languages that indicates location or direction towards a place

adjective relating to or being in a grammatical case that indicates location or direction towards a place

• The adessive case in Finnish indicates location or position near something.
• You can use the adessive case when talking about being at a certain place.
• I always forget when to use the adessive case in Finnish, it's so confusing!
• In a figurative sense, the adessive case can be used to show emotional proximity to a person or idea.

noun a word or phrase that modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb

adjective describing a word or phrase that is equivalent to an adverb

• An adverb equivalent is a word that functions similarly to an adverb in a sentence.
• Think of an adverb equivalent as a word that does the same job as an adverb.
• An adverb equivalent is like the adverb's cool cousin in a sentence.
• Using an adverb equivalent is like adding a secret ingredient to your sentence.