The correct spelling of "citation form" is /sɪˈteɪʃən fɔːm/. This term refers to the basic or dictionary form of a word that is used for citation and reference purposes. The word "citation" is pronounced with a short "i" sound and stress on the second syllable, while the word "form" is pronounced with a long "o" sound and stress on the first syllable. It is important to use proper spelling and phonetic transcription when referencing linguistic terms such as "citation form."
Citation form, also known as the base form or dictionary form, refers to the lexical representation of a word in its most basic and uninflected state. It is the form of a word that is usually found in dictionaries and used as a reference point for the analysis of its various morphological and phonological properties.
The citation form typically represents the singular and/or masculine form of a noun, the infinitive of a verb, or the positive degree of an adjective or adverb. It serves as a standardized representation of a word that is easily recognizable and distinct from its inflected versions. For example, the citation form of the verb "go" is "go," while the infinitive form of the adjective "happy" is simply "happy."
In many languages, inflectional processes, such as conjugation, declension, and comparison, alter the citation form of words to indicate factors such as tense, mood, case, number, and degree. These variations allow for more specific and nuanced expressions of meaning within a given language.
The citation form is an essential component in linguistic analysis as it provides a point of reference from which various linguistic phenomena and patterns can be observed and analyzed. By examining the citation form, linguists can gain insight into the morphological and phonological processes that shape words, as well as the relationships between different words within a language's lexicon.
The word "citation" dates back to the mid-15th century and is derived from the Latin word "citare", meaning "to summon or call". This Latin term is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "kei-" or "kait-", meaning "to start" or "to set in motion".
The term "citation" originally referred to the act of calling or summoning someone, particularly in the context of legal proceedings. Over time, it also came to be used in the context of quoting or referring to a source in written works.
The word "form" originated in the Middle English period, around the 13th century, and is derived from the Old French word "forme" and the Latin word "forma", both of which mean "shape" or "appearance".