Communication

Gesture: bodily signs of communication — meaning, brain, culture, and uses Gesture An overview of gestures as intentional bodily signals: features, neural basis, cultural variation, history, applications in technology and animal communication, and distinctions fr…

Gibberish (nonsense speech and language play) Gibberish Gibberish refers to speech or writing that appears nonsensical or made of nonwords. It appears in play, music, ritual, comedy, and language research and is distinct from jargon or…

Gilbertese (Kiribati): an Oceanic language of the central Pacific Gilbertese language Gilbertese (Taetae ni Kiribati) is an Oceanic Austronesian language spoken primarily in Kiribati and by Pacific island diasporas; it has distinct phonology, grammar, and a Latin-ba…

Globish: a simplified variety of English for international communication Globish Globish is a controlled subset of English intended for clear international communication. It emphasizes a limited vocabulary (about 1500 words), basic grammar, and avoidance of idi…

Glottalic theory of Proto-Indo-European phonology Glottalic theory A summary of the glottalic theory: its claims about PIE stop series, main proponents and publications, typological arguments, evidence from daughter languages, criticisms, and curr…

Goidelic languages (Gaelic languages) Goidelic languages Branch of the Insular Celtic family including Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx; overview of features, history, geographic distribution, literary tradition and modern status.

Goodbye — the parting expression and its meanings Goodbye Overview of 'goodbye': its probable origin, common forms, cultural variations, functions in speech and writing, and notable distinctions between casual and formal farewells.

Google Talk (GChat, GTalk) Google Talk Google Talk was an instant messaging and voice chat service by Google, built on the XMPP protocol, integrated with Gmail and mobile clients and later succeeded by newer Google mess…

GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) GPRS Tunneling Protocol GTP is a family of mobile‑core protocols used to tunnel user data and control messages across cellular networks, enabling mobility, bearer management, and charging in 2G/3G/4G syst…

Grammatical person (linguistics) Grammatical person Grammatical person classifies participants in speech—speaker, addressee, others—and affects pronouns, verb agreement, politeness, and cross-linguistic distinctions.

Graphical User Interfaces and Console (Command-Line) Interfaces Graphical user interfaces and consoles Overview of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and console/command-line interfaces (CLIs): definitions, components, history, typical uses, advantages and how modern systems combine b…

Greenlandic (Kalaallisut): overview, dialects, and linguistic features Greenlandic language An accessible account of the Greenlandic language (Kalaallisut): its main dialects, structure, writing, history, and contemporary status in Greenland and Inuit contexts.

Greeting: Forms, Function, and Cultural Variation Greeting Overview of greetings: verbal phrases and nonverbal gestures, cultural differences, history, social functions, and etiquette across contexts such as everyday, formal, and internati…

Guernésiais: The Norman Oïl language of Guernsey — history, features and revitalisation Guernésiais Overview of Guernésiais, the Norman Oïl language of Guernsey: its history, linguistic features, decline in speakers, and contemporary revitalisation efforts by local groups and edu…

Gojri (Gujari) — Indo‑Aryan language of the Gurjars Gujari language Gojri (Gujari) is an Indo‑Aryan language spoken by Gurjar communities across northern India and Pakistan. It has multiple regional varieties, a strong oral tradition, and a debated…

Gun language (Gungbe): a Gbe language of Benin and Nigeria Gun language Gun (Gungbe) is a Gbe language spoken mainly in southern Benin and parts of southwestern Nigeria. Closely related to Fon, it appears in local education, media and everyday life acr…

H (letter): pronunciation, history, form, and uses H An overview of the letter H — the eighth letter of the English alphabet — covering its forms, sounds (aitch/haitch), historical origins, common uses, and notable linguistic facts.

Haitian Creole: language, features, history, and social role Haitian Creole Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) is a French‑based creole spoken by millions in Haiti and the diaspora; it has distinct grammar, a rich history, and official status alongside French…

Hakka language: characteristics, history, dialects and global presence Hakka language Hakka is a Sinitic language variety spoken by the Hakka people and their descendants across southern China, Taiwan, East and Southeast Asia and global diaspora communities.

Handshake A handshake is a brief hand-to-hand gesture used worldwide as a greeting, sign of agreement, or social ritual. This article explains forms, history, social rules, and common variat…

Hate speech: definition, characteristics, legal approaches, and social effects Hate speech Hate speech is communication that attacks people on protected grounds. This article explains what it is, common targets, legal differences across countries, social impacts, and dis…

Hawaiian language (ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi) Hawaiian language Overview of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: its sounds and writing, history and recovery, common words, cultural role, and distinctions such as the ʻokina and kahakō.

Hazard symbol A hazard symbol is a pictogram or mark used to warn about a physical, chemical, biological, or other danger. Symbols help people recognise risks quickly and follow safety measures.

Hebrew: history, structure, revival, and modern use Hebrew language Overview of the Hebrew language: its Semitic roots, Biblical origin, centuries as a liturgical tongue, modern revival in Israel, script and grammar, and contemporary global role.

Hello (greeting): usage, history and common variations Hello Overview of the English greeting “hello”: its function, registers, history (including telephone use), common alternatives and related farewells across cultures.

Herero language (Otjiherero): a Bantu language of Namibia and Botswana Herero language Otjiherero (Herero) is a Bantu language spoken mainly in Namibia and Botswana by roughly 237,000 people. It uses a Latin-based alphabet and appears in education, media and cultural…

High five A high five is a brief, two-person hand gesture used to mark success, solidarity, or greeting; it has sporting roots and many social variations.

Hindi — an Indo‑Aryan language of northern India Hindi Hindi is an Indo‑Aryan language widely spoken across northern India and beyond, written in Devanāgarī. It has a long history from Sanskrit, many dialects and cultural influence thr…

Hindustani (Hindi–Urdu): origins, features, and cultural role Hindustani language Hindustani is the common colloquial core of Hindi and Urdu. This entry covers its origins, grammar and scripts, standard varieties, and its role in communication, literature, film…

Hiss: sound, production, and roles in animals and human speech Hiss Hiss is a sharp, sibilant noise produced by airflow or vibration in animals, humans, and machines. This article explains how hisses are formed, their biological roles, and distinct…

Hokkien (Southern Min): language, varieties, history, and cultural role Hokkien Hokkien is a group of Southern Min Chinese varieties spoken in southern Fujian, Taiwan, and parts of Southeast Asia. This article summarizes its features, dialects, history, writin…

Homophone A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning and often in spelling. Homophones matter in language, poetry, wordplay, and learning to rea…

Hotline — Dedicated telephone and remote help services Hotline A hotline is a dedicated telephone or remote-contact service that provides immediate, specialized information or assistance for emergencies, customer support, public services, or r…

Hypertext: Structure, History, and Uses of Linked Text Hypertext An overview of hypertext: linked textual structures, components like hyperlinks, historical development, common implementations (HTML, wikis), uses, and distinctions from linear te…

Hyphen: form, rules, uses, and how it differs from dashes Hyphen An accessible guide to the hyphen: appearance, common uses in compounding and syllabification, style variations, historical notes, and how it differs from dashes and the minus sign…

I — the letter and the English pronoun I Overview of the letter I: its role in the Latin alphabet, pronunciation and forms, its use as the English first‑person pronoun, historical origins, and notable variations such as t…

I (Cyrillic letter И) I (Cyrillic) The Cyrillic letter И (uppercase И, lowercase и) represents a close front vowel and appears in many Slavic alphabets. Covers its shape, origins from Greek eta, typographic forms, a…

IC (abbreviation) IC IC is a two-letter abbreviation used in technology, government, online slang and role‑playing. This article summarizes its common meanings, origins, applications and how to disting…

Icelandic language Icelandic, a North Germanic language of Iceland, preserves many Old Norse features. It is the everyday, official language of Iceland and is noted for its conservative grammar, dist…

ICQ: Pioneering Instant Messaging Service and Its Influence ICQ ICQ is a pioneering instant messaging and VoIP service launched in 1996 that introduced centralized user accounts, the numeric UIN system and features that shaped later messaging p…

Idiom (figurative expression) Idiom An idiom is a fixed phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from its individual words. This article explains what idioms are, how they differ from slang, their history, examples, an…

Ido: an international auxiliary language derived from Esperanto Ido Ido is a reformed version of Esperanto created in 1907 to address perceived difficulties in Esperanto's orthography and grammar. It remains a small international auxiliary language…

IEEE 802.11 (Wi‑Fi): standards, technology, and everyday use IEEE 802.11 IEEE 802.11 is the family of wireless LAN standards commonly called Wi‑Fi; it defines radio, MAC, and network behaviors used for home, enterprise, and public wireless networking.

If: the conditional conjunction and Kipling's poem If An overview of the English word "if"—its grammatical roles, types of conditional, logical and programming uses—and a brief account of Rudyard Kipling's poem "If—" and its cultural…

Igbo language: overview, features, and cultural significance Igbo language Igbo is a major Niger–Congo language of southeastern Nigeria, spoken by over 18 million people. This article summarizes its classification, dialects, writing system, tone, history,…

IMVU — 3D avatar social platform and virtual goods marketplace IMVU IMVU is a social platform built around three-dimensional avatars, real‑time chat and a user-driven virtual goods economy. Launched in 2004, it combines social networking, customiza…

Indian English: Varieties, History, and Role in South Asia Indian English Indian English denotes the diverse dialects of English spoken in India and the South Asian diaspora, shaped by local languages, colonial history, education, media, and distinctive…

Indian Sign Language An overview of Indian Sign Language: its structure, regional varieties, role in education and rights, institutional development, and contemporary challenges in India and South Asia…