lallèle

Lallèle is not a standard term with a fixed, widely accepted meaning in major linguistic or genetic reference works. In many cases, the form may arise as a misspelling or variant of the French word allèle, which in genetics denotes a variant form of a gene. Because of this potential confusion, lallèle is often encountered only in informal writing or as a typographical error rather than as a recognized technical term.

The word’s etymology in established dictionaries is not documented, and there is no consensus on its use in scholarly contexts. In some instances, writers may coin lallèle as a nonce term inspired by related roots such as lallation or babbling, but such usage is not standardized and remains nonauthoritative.

Usage and guidance: If a text uses lallèle, readers should check the surrounding context to determine whether the author intended allèle (allele) in a genetics discussion or whether a nonstandard or creative sense related to speech sounds or babbling is being explored. In formal writing, it is advisable to replace lallèle with the correct established term or clearly define any neologism upon first use.

See also: allèle (allele); lallation; babbling; phonology; genetics terminology.