A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics David Crystal

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as denoting not truth values but situations (sets of facts which consist of a
location, a relation and a truth value). The approach has also placed heavy
emphasis on the ways in which the interpretation of sentences depends on
the context.
skeletal tier A term used in autosegmental phonology for the tier where
units are represented as consonants and vowels within syllabic structure;
also known as the CV-tier or skeleton. The intention is to represent information
about the length and arrangement of segments independently of their articulatory
characteristics. In the original formalization, this tier is specified for
the feature [±syllabic], where vowels (V) are [+syllabic] and other units (C) are
[−syllabic]; segments may also be unspecified (symbolized as X). If these distinctions
are interpreted structurally, corresponding to location within the syllable,
the C-position is the onset (where only non-syllabic material can be found), the
V-position is the nucleus (where only syllabic material can be found), and the
X-position is the coda (where either is possible). There are analogous notions
in other models of non-linear phonology, e.g. the syllabic representation
which forms part of the prosodic hierarchy in prosodic morphology. See also
X-tier.
skeleton (n.)
see skeletal tier
Skolem function A term used in semantics for a function which maps individuals
onto individuals; named after Norwegian logician (Albert) Thoralf Skolem
(1887–1963). Skolem functions play an important role in certain semantic analyses
of anaphora, especially in interrogative sentences.
slash (n.) A term used in generalized phrase-structure grammar for a
feature (symbolized using a ‘slash’ notation as in ‘S/NP’) which is used in the
analysis of unbounded dependency constructions to indicate what category
is missing.
slip of the tongue
see tongue-slip
slit (adj.) A term used by some phoneticians to refer to a type of fricative
where air is released over the surface of the articulators through a narrow,
horizontal opening; also called flat. Such fricatives (e.g. [f], [θ], [ç]) are contrasted
with groove fricatives, where a hollowing of the active articulator is
involved (e.g. [s], [à]).
sloppy identity In grammar and semantics, a type of relationship between the
deleted element in an elliptical construction and its antecedent, where the
reference of the elements is not exactly the same. For example in Mary likes
her sister and so does Jane, a possible interpretation would be that ‘Jane likes
her own sister’. If the referent of the deleted element is exactly the same as the
antecedent (i.e. in this example, ‘Jane also likes Mary’s sister’), there is said to
be strict identity.
slot (n.) (1) A term used in grammatical analysis to refer to a place in a
construction into which a class of items can be inserted. For example, in