Type–token distinction
Hey kiddo, do you know that words can be the same and different at the same time? Doesn't make sense? Let me explain it to you.
Sometimes words can be the same in spelling, pronunciation, and meaning but they can also be different because they appear in different contexts or circumstances. When we talk about the same word appearing in different situations, we call it a token. This means that one single word can have multiple tokens, just like a $10 bill can have many serial numbers.
On the other hand, when we talk about different words with different spellings, pronunciation, or meanings, we call it a type. For example, if you have a $5 bill and a $10 bill, even though they are different, they have the same type, which is currency.
In linguistics, the same concept applies to words. For example, the word "cat" can appear in different sentences, such as "The cat jumped over the fence" or "I saw another cat in the park." In these sentences, "cat" is used differently, but it is still the same word. We call each appearance of "cat" a token, while "cat" is the type of the word.
So, to sum it up, a type is the general concept of a word, while a token is the specific instance of that word appearing in different situations. Just like how you have different lego blocks but they can be the same type because they can all build a tower.
Sometimes words can be the same in spelling, pronunciation, and meaning but they can also be different because they appear in different contexts or circumstances. When we talk about the same word appearing in different situations, we call it a token. This means that one single word can have multiple tokens, just like a $10 bill can have many serial numbers.
On the other hand, when we talk about different words with different spellings, pronunciation, or meanings, we call it a type. For example, if you have a $5 bill and a $10 bill, even though they are different, they have the same type, which is currency.
In linguistics, the same concept applies to words. For example, the word "cat" can appear in different sentences, such as "The cat jumped over the fence" or "I saw another cat in the park." In these sentences, "cat" is used differently, but it is still the same word. We call each appearance of "cat" a token, while "cat" is the type of the word.
So, to sum it up, a type is the general concept of a word, while a token is the specific instance of that word appearing in different situations. Just like how you have different lego blocks but they can be the same type because they can all build a tower.
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