Apophony

Quick meaning: Apophony is a noun meaning (phonetics) Modification of an internal vowel sound in a word or linguistic root, especially so as to establish a lexical distinction.

Meaning

(phonetics) Modification of an internal vowel sound in a word or linguistic root, especially so as to establish a lexical distinction.

Example Sentences

Apophony is also seen in talentum from τάλαντον [talanton] “talent, a unit of weight or currency.”

Cinglar has the merit of referring to a back and forth movement, which one might suppose is suggested by the apophony of zinguizangue […]

Apophony in both inflection and derivation has been shrinking through the history of English, but continues to be available in synesthesia (e.g. bing, bang, bong, §10.3.2) and, less productively, in reduplicative and conjunctive formations (e.g. mishmash, §14.4).

Word Forms

• apophonies

Synonyms for apophony

Depending on context, synonyms include antiphony, ablaut, gradation.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include antiphony, haplology, anaptyxis, aphony, phonemization, aphoresis.

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