Simulfix

Affix that changes one or more phonemes

In linguistics, a simulfix is a type of affix that changes one or more existing phonemes (usually vowels) in order to modify the meaning of a morpheme.[1]

Affixes
  • Prefix
  • Suffix
  • Circumfix
  • Duplifix
  • Infix
  • Libfix
  • Interfix
  • Transfix
  • Simulfix
  • Suprafix
  • Disfix
See also:
  • Null morpheme
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Examples of simulfixes in English are generally considered irregularities, surviving results of Germanic umlaut. They include:

  • manmen, womanwomen
  • louselice, mousemice
  • footfeet, toothteeth

The transfixes of the Semitic languages may be considered a form of discontinuous simulfix.

In Indonesian, simulfixation productively occurs, for example, in ngopi, nyapu, nyuci, nongkrong and macul, which are verbs derived from the noun bases kopi, sapu, cuci, tongkrong and pacul.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Simulfix". SIL Glossary of Linguistic Terms. 2015-12-03. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
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