woordenschatterm

Woordenschatterm is a neologistic term used in discussions of vocabulary structure in Dutch-language linguistics. It denotes a single lexeme that functions as a reference point within a vocabulary database, corpus annotation scheme, or pedagogical framework. The idea is to tag an entry as a recognizable anchor that helps users navigate related words and semantic fields. In practice, woordenschatterms act as high-utility items that connect multiple senses and collocations, supporting learners and researchers alike.

Etymology and status: The word is a compound of woordenschat (vocabulary) and term, with the suffix -term drawn from English and scientific jargon. It is typically described as a niche or informal label rather than an officially standardized category in major dictionaries or linguistic corpora.

Usage and criteria: Selection usually considers frequency across genres, semantic breadth, polysemy, and cross-domain relevance. A typical woordenschatterm appears across registers and domains, linking to related terms, synonyms, and collocations, and is often used to annotate corpora or to curate beginner vocabularies and drill lists.

Examples and debates: Common candidates might include basic nouns like huis (house), water, and eten (to eat) or function words like en (and). Critics note that the lack of formal standardization means the term’s scope, criteria, and annotation conventions can vary between projects, limiting comparability.

See also: woordenschat, core vocabulary, lexicography, corpus linguistics.