Sluicing: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
sluicing
[ หsluหษชsษชล ]
linguistic context
Sluicing is a syntactic phenomenon in which a clause is reduced to a fragment, typically by omitting the antecedent of an interrogative phrase. It generally occurs in cases where a part of a sentence is left out because it can be inferred from the context of the conversation. This linguistic feature often emphasizes the remaining part of the original statement. For instance, in the sentence 'I saw him, but I don't know who,' the question of 'who' is not explicitly answered, hence creating a sluice. Sluicing is significant in understanding how language operates in communication and the efficiency of conveying meaning.
Synonyms
ellipsis, fragmentation, reduction.
Examples of usage
- I want to eat, but I don't know what.
- She read a book, but I can't remember which.
- He bought something, but I forget what it was.
Translations
Translations of the word "sluicing" in other languages:
๐ต๐น sluicing
๐ฎ๐ณ sluicing
๐ฉ๐ช Sluicing
๐ฎ๐ฉ sluicing
๐บ๐ฆ ัะปะธะทัะฒะฐะฝะฝั
๐ต๐ฑ sluicing
๐ฏ๐ต ในใซใคใทใณใฐ
๐ซ๐ท sluicing
๐ช๐ธ sluicing
๐น๐ท sluicing
๐ฐ๐ท ์ฌ๋ฃจ์ด์ฑ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุณูููุณูุฌ
๐จ๐ฟ sluicing
๐ธ๐ฐ sluicing
๐จ๐ณ ๅฒๆด
๐ธ๐ฎ sluicing
๐ฎ๐ธ sluicing
๐ฐ๐ฟ sluicing
๐ฌ๐ช sluicing
๐ฆ๐ฟ sluicing
๐ฒ๐ฝ sluicing
Etymology
The term 'sluicing' originated in the field of linguistics, particularly in syntax and semantics, where it describes a specific grammar structure involving the omission of parts of a sentence. Its roots can be traced back to the mid-20th century when scholars began to analyze more complex constructs in languages, borrowing concepts from the practice of sluicing in water management, where water is channeled and portions are let out. Sluicing in linguistics mirrors this control over language, illustrating how parts can be left out while still maintaining meaning. This concept has been particularly influential in understanding questions and their underlying structures across various languages, leading to broader implications in the study of communication and human cognition.