different between colloquial vs locution

English

Etymology

1751, from earlier term colloquy (“a conversation”), from Latin colloquium (“conference, conversation”), from con- (“together”) + loquor (“to speak”), + -al.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /k??l??.kw??l/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /k??lo?.kwi.?l/
• Hyphenation: col?lo?qui?al

Adjective

colloquial (comparative more colloquial, superlative most colloquial)

1. (linguistics) Denoting a manner of speaking or writing that is characteristic of familiar conversation, of common parlance; informal.

2. Of or pertaining to a conversation; conversational or chatty.

Usage notes

It is a common misconception that colloquial somehow denotes "local" or a word being "regional". This is not the case; the word root for colloquial is related to locution, not location. A more appropriate word for describing "local" or "regional" language is vernacular.

Note that while colloquy and colloquium refer to formal conversation, colloquial refers instead specifically to informal conversation.

Synonyms

• colloq., coll.

Derived terms

Related terms

• colloquium
• colloquy

Translations

See also

• argot
• slang
• vernacular

Noun

colloquial (plural colloquials)

1. A colloquial word or phrase, colloquialism

Related terms

• colloquialism

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin loc?ti?, loc?ti?nem (“speech”), fromloquor (“speak”). Compare the French cognate locution.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lo???kju.?n?/

Noun

locution (plural locutions)

1. A phrase or expression connected to an individual or a group of individuals through repeated usage.

   The television show host is widely recognized for his all-too-common locutions.
2. The use of a word or phrase in an unusual or specialized way.
   • 1992, Judith Jarvis Thomson, The Realm of Rights (page 299)

     So it cannot be supposed that promisings differ from other word-givings in that a word-giver makes a promise only if he or she uses the locution "I promise".

3. (religion) A supernatural revelation where a religious figure, statue or icon speaks, usually to a saint.

Derived terms

• circumlocution
• locutionary
• locutive
• elocution

Related terms

• colloquial
• colloquium
• colloquy
• eloquent
• grandiloquent
• illocution
• interlocutor
• interlocution
• loquacious
• perlocution
• soliloquy

Translations

References

• locution in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• locution in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• locution at OneLook Dictionary Search

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin loc?ti?, loc?ti?nem (“speech”), from loqui (“speak”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /l?.ky.sj??/

Noun

locution f (plural locutions)

1. phrase, locution

Derived terms

Further reading

• “locution” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).