emphatic pronounemphatic pronoun n
a pronoun which gives additional emphasis to a noun phrase or which draws
attention to it. In English these are formed in the same way as reflexive
pronouns, by adding -self, -selves to the pronouns. For example:
I myselfcooked the dinner.
We spoke to the President herself.
emphatic stress n
see stress
empirical investigation n
see fieldwork
empirical validity n
a measure of the validityof a test arrived at by comparing the test with one
or more criterion measures. Such comparisons could be with:
a other valid tests or other independent measures obtained at the same
time (e.g. an assessment made by the teacher) (concurrent validity)
b other valid tests or other performance criteria obtained at a later time
(predictive validity)
This approach to validity can be contrasted with judgemental validity, such
as contentor face validity, that relies on theory rather than observation
as in empirical validity.
empiricism n
the philosophical doctrine that all knowledge comes from experience. This
can be contrasted with rationalism, which holds that knowledge comes
from basic concepts known intuitively through reason, such as innate ideas
(see innatist hypothesis).
empowerment n
the provision or development of skills, abilities, knowledge and information
that could help someone improve his or her conditions. Empowerment is
often viewed as a goal to assist people with low status, influence and power
increase their chances of prosperity, power, and prestige. In some contexts
second language courses seek not merely to teach language skills but to
empower students to seek action to redress injustices they experience. Literacy
and biliteracy are major means of empowering individuals and groups.
empty category n
(in generative grammar) a category that has no surface realization.
see also trace