Jakobsonian

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Relating to the structuralist linguistic theories, or the communication model, developed by the Russian-American scholar Roman Jakobson
2. Describing ideas, methods or concepts associated with the work of the linguist Roman Jakobson on language and poetics
3. Characterizing the theories of language, phonology and communication put forward by the influential linguist Roman Jakobson

Etymology: Jakobsonian is an adjective built from the surname Jakobson, the name of Roman Jakobson, the linguist and literary theorist, plus the suffix "-ian," which turns a proper name into an adjective meaning "relating to" or "characteristic of" that person. The suffix is the familiar one found in words like Shakespearean or Darwinian, so the word is a straightforward formation rather than a coinage with a dramatic backstory. In practice, "Jakobsonian" is used to describe ideas, methods or analyses that follow Jakobson's work, most often his theories of language functions and of linguistic structure. Scholars writing about his influence on phonology, poetics or semiotics use it to mark a line of thought traceable to him, and it is a standard term in linguistics and literary studies.