Subcategorisation

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The practice of sorting items into narrower classifications to enhance understanding
2. A system utilized to break down general categories into detailed subdivisions for improved structure
3. The process of dividing a broad group into more specific groups for clearer analysis

Etymology: "Subcategorisation" is a plain modern formation: the prefix "sub-", meaning "under" or "below" in the sense of a lower level, attached to "categorisation", the act of sorting things into categories. Together they describe the process of dividing an existing category into smaller categories. The sense of splitting groups further is the whole of its meaning, and the parts combine exactly as their meanings suggest. The spelling with "-ise" is the British form; "subcategorization" with "-ize" is the American equivalent, and both are recorded as acceptable variants. The word is most at home in linguistics, where it names the way a verb determines what kinds of phrases can follow it, but it is also used in library science, biology and general classification.

Synonyms: subcategorization