A sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or representation in language; an enumeration of the essential qualities of a thing or species.
A descriptive linguistic survey.
The act or practice of recording and describing actual language usage in a given speech community, as opposed to prescription, i.e. laying down norms of language usage.
A set of characteristics by which someone or something can be recognized.
A scientific documentation of a taxon for the purpose of introducing it to science.
The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.
A tale or story that is part of the oral tradition of a people or a place.