Colloquialism

(Redirected from Colloquial)

A colloquialism is a word that is not used in formal speech, writing or paralinguistics. Colloquialisms are also sometimes referred to collectively as "colloquial language".[1] Colloquialisms or colloquial language is considered to be characteristic of or only appropriate for casual, ordinary, familiar, or informal conversation rather than formal speech or writing.[2] Dictionaries often mark colloquial words and phrases with the abbreviation colloq. as an identifier.

References

  1. colloquialism. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved September 10, 2008, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/colloquialism
  2. colloquial. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved September 10, 2008, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/colloquial