IRCn
an acronym for Internet Relay Chat, a worldwide synchronous multi-user
chat protocol that allows one to converse with others in real time. IRC is a
free downloadable program used in language classrooms for establishing
keypals interested in synchronouscommunication.
IREn
an abbreviation for initiation-response-evaluation
see exchange
IRFn
an abbreviation for initiation-response-feedback
see exchange
irregular verbn
see regular verb
IRTn
an abbreviation for item response theory.
ISLPRn
an abbreviation for the International Second Language Proficiency
Ratings.
isoglossn
a line on a map indicating the boundary of a particular linguistic theory.
A bundle of such isoglosses is often taken to indicate a dialectboundary.
isolating languagen
also analytic language
a language in which word forms do not change, and in which grammatical
functions are shown by word order and the use of function words.
For example, in Mandarin Chinese:
júzi wDch 3 le
orange I eat (function word
showing completion)
“I ate the orange”
wDch 3 le júzi le
I eat (function orange (function
word) word)
“I have eaten an orange”
Languages which are highly isolating include Chinese and Vietnamese,
although there is no clear-cut distinction between isolating languages,
inflecting languages, and agglutinating languages. English is more
IRC