citation form

The FORM of a LINGUISTIC UNIT when it is cited in isolation, for purposes of discussion. More specifically, the term refers to the pronunciation given to a word when it is produced in isolation, and not in CONNECTED SPEECH. The term citation is also used in a general sense in LINGUISTICS, referring to the use of an UTTERANCE or piece of TEXT for quotation or reference purposes. In LEXICOGRAPHY, citation slips are used to provide the evidence on which the dictionary’s entries are selected and organized.