topicalize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low in everyday use; high in academic and linguistic contexts.Formal, technical.
Quick answer
What does “topicalize” mean?
To make something topical or current.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make something topical or current; in linguistics, to move a constituent to the beginning of a sentence for emphasis.
Can refer to applying topical treatment or focusing on relevant issues in various contexts, such as media or discourse.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal; primarily pronunciation variations, with no significant semantic or usage differences.
Connotations
Same in both varieties, carrying a formal or technical tone.
Frequency
Equally rare in general speech but common in specialized fields like linguistics.
Grammar
How to Use “topicalize” in a Sentence
Transitive: topicalize + noun phraseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “topicalize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- In the syntax class, we learned how to topicalise a phrase for clarity.
- The author decided to topicalise the key argument in the introduction.
American English
- The linguist will topicalize the object to analyze sentence structure.
- In the debate, they topicalized the most pressing issue first.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; used in discussions to focus on current market trends or relevant issues.
Academic
Common in linguistics, discourse analysis, and syntactic theory.
Everyday
Very rare; might appear in formal writing or advanced discussions.
Technical
Frequent in grammar descriptions and linguistic research.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “topicalize”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “topicalize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “topicalize”
- Using it as a synonym for 'update' without the syntactic sense.
- Confusing with 'topical' meaning applied to skin or local treatment.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily used in academic and linguistic contexts, and is rare in casual conversation.
Yes, it can mean to make something topical or relevant to current events, but this usage is less common and often formal.
'Topicalize' specifically refers to syntactic movement in linguistics or making something current, while 'emphasize' is a more general term for giving importance.
In British English, it is pronounced as /ˈtɒp.ɪ.kəl.aɪz/.
To make something topical or current.
Topicalize is usually formal, technical. in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'topical' + 'ize' – to make something top of mind or current, like bringing it to the top.
Conceptual Metaphor
BRINGING TO THE TOP or MAKING CENTRAL.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'topicalize' primarily mean in linguistics?