The concept of markedness is concerned with the distinction between what is neutral, natural, or expected (=unmarked) and what departs from the neutral (=marked) along some specified parameter. It was introduced in linguistics by the Prague School...

Markedness is a linguistic concept that developed out of the Prague School (also known as the Prague linguistic circle). A marked form is a non-basic or less natural form. An unmarked form is a basic, default form. For example, lion is the unmarked...