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IN THE FOURTEEN YEARS OF MANAGING the "Language and Diction" column of the Journal of Singing, I have kept two overriding aims in the forefront of consideration. First, the need to supplement existing literature for performers and pedagogues on lyric diction, particularly for those languages less well represented, or unrepresented at all. Second, to expand the vocabulary of lyric diction to include terminology and concepts well entrenched in the field of linguistics, but not normally encountered in the musical literature, that have practical value for performers.1
The former aim has resulted in more than fifteen articles specific to languages other than English, French, German, Italian, and Latin. No one person can possibly fulfil this mission. For this, gratitude must be extended to all those guest contributors who have the expertise to write with authority for musicians in these essential languages. There is still much work to be done in this area, and several other languages (European and non-European) with significant vocal repertory remain largely unrepresented in the musical literature.2
The latter aim has involved the mainstreaming of terminology and nomenclature that formerly remained outside lyric diction reporting-terms such as phoneme/allophone, and the proper use of square brackets [ ], slashes / /, and angled brackets <>. The glossary presented in this article is designed to put many of these terms and symbols conveniently in one place, for ease of reference if an unfamiliar item appears in the course of reading articles in the Journal and elsewhere. Although some terms will be described in detail elsewhere in Journal of Singing articles, this article should provide a convenient reference point.3
Several fine dictionaries of linguistic terminology exist, and are listed at the end of the article. The entries in this article are highly selective by comparison, and are limited to terms that may be less familiar to the musician, and require explanation as to their relevance to musical performance. Terms already in general use, such as liaison, vocalic harmonization, will be assumed to be already familiar.
SELECTIVE GLOSSARY
Affix
A morpheme attached to a word, providing additional meaning. These include the prefix ("un-"), suffix ("-ment," "-ly"), circumfix (Ger. "ge... t," "gegrüßt"), and less commonly, superfix...