Introducing English Linguistics

writing, were riding.
proto-languages:
Languages for which no surviving records exist and that have been creat-
ed through the process of linguistic reconstruction.
Glossary
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prototype:
The extent to which a linguistic construction is typical of the class to
which it belongs. For instance, a poodle and skipper key are both types of
dogs. However, because a poodle is a common kind of dog, it is prototypi-
cal. A skipper key, however, is a very uncommon type of dog. Hence, it is
not prototypical.
proximal deictic:
Words such as this or these which locate something close to the speaker.
Compare with distal deictic.
pseudo-cleft:
A construction having the structure what
 be, as in What I would like to do