What is elision?

Definition
	Elision is the omission of sounds, syllables, or words in spoken or written discourse.

Discussion
	Unstressed syllables and words are the most prone to be elided.

Examples
	/kamra/ 'camera' cuppa tea 'cup of tea' cats 'n dogs 'cats and dogs'

See also
	Options for marking word boundaries

Source
	Crystal 1991:119–120

Context for this page:

Concept module: elision
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): E
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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