tòpic

Tòpic is a Catalan noun that denotes the subject matter or theme of discussion. It is used to refer to the matter at hand in conversations, texts, or presentations. In everyday Catalan, the word tema is common, but tòpic appears more frequently in formal, academic, or journalistic contexts. The plural form is tòpics, and the word may appear in phrases such as “el tòpic de la conferència” or “anar més enllà del tòpic.”

Etymology and cognates: Tòpic derives from Greek topikos, meaning “relating to place” or “of place,” via Latin topicus, and then into Romance languages. It is cognate with the Spanish tópico and the French topique, all sharing the sense of subject matter or cliche. The sense of topic in discourse or text development is a common thread across these languages.

Usage notes: Tòpic is often favored in formal writing or technical contexts, while temà, tema, or assumpte are common in general speech. The term can also appear in discussions of discourse structure, such as indicating the current topic of a text or conversation. It can be used in phrases like “tòpics de debat,” “tòpic d’estudi,” or in idiomatic expressions such as “anar més enllà del tòpic,” meaning to move beyond a cliché or superficial point.

See also: Topic, thematic, discourse analysis.