D

Declarative ( factual ) knowledge

The kind of knowledge embodied in concepts and propositions. For example, “George Washington was the first president of the United States.”

Declarative memory

Memory to which one has direct access and of which one can be consciously aware

Dendrite

A portion of a neuron that extends like a thin ribbon from the cell body. Its end form the “receiving parts” of synapses

Descriptive linguistics

The study of language involving description of actually occurring patterns and processes

Descriptive rules

Those rules occurring naturally and spontaneously in language and describe by linguists, as opposed to prescriptive rules, which are formulated and taught by grammarians and teachers

Developmental psycholinguistics

The branch of linguistics concerned with the  development of and changes in mental processes and actions as people use language

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the component of chromosomes that contains the genetic instructions

Dualism

The philosophical idea that the mind and body are two distinct entities

Dyslexia

A condition in which language development is impaired to some degree, most noticeably in the ability to read