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In phonetics and phonology, apheresis (/əˈfɛrɪsɪs,əˈfɪərɪsɪs/; British English: aphaeresis) is the loss of a word-initial vowel producing a new form called aphetism (e.g. American > 'Merican). In a broader sense, it can refer to the loss of any initial sound (including consonants) from a word or, in a less technical sense, to the loss of one or more sounds from the beginning of a word.[1]
Apheresis comes from Greek ἀφαίρεσις aphairesis, "taking away" from ἀφαιρέω aphaireo from ἀπό apo, "away" and αἱρέω haireo, "to take".[1] Aphetism (/ˈæfɪtɪzəm/) comes from Greek ἄφεσις aphesis, "letting go" from ἀφίημι aphiemi from ἀπό apo, "away" and ἵημι híemi, "send forth".
Historical sound change
In historical phonetics and phonology, the term "apheresis" is often limited to the loss of an unstressed vowel. The Oxford English Dictionary gives that particular kind of apheresis the name aphesis (/ˈæfɪsɪs/; from Greek ἄφεσις).
Synchronic apheresis is more likely to occur in informal speech than in careful speech: 'scuse me vs. excuse me, How 'bout that? and How about that? It typically supplies the input enabling acceptance of apheresized forms historically, such as especially > specially. The result may be doublets, such as especially and specially, or the pre-apheresis form may fail to survive (Old French eschars > English scarce). An intermediate status is common in which both forms continue to exist but lose their transparent semantic relationship: abate 'decrease, moderate', with bate now confined to the locution with bated breath 'with breath held back'.
See also
Look up apheresis or aphaeresis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Alexander, James D. 1988. Aphesis in English. Word 39.29-65
Crowley, Terry (1997). An Introduction to Historical Linguistics. 3rd edition. Oxford University Press.
January 06, 2023
apheresis, linguistics, this, article, list, format, read, better, prose, help, converting, this, article, appropriate, editing, help, available, april, 2013, phonetics, phonology, apheresis, ɪər, british, english, aphaeresis, loss, word, initial, vowel, produ. This article is in list format but may read better as prose You can help by converting this article if appropriate Editing help is available April 2013 In phonetics and phonology apheresis e ˈ f ɛr ɪ s ɪ s e ˈ f ɪer ɪ s ɪ s British English aphaeresis is the loss of a word initial vowel producing a new form called aphetism e g American gt Merican In a broader sense it can refer to the loss of any initial sound including consonants from a word or in a less technical sense to the loss of one or more sounds from the beginning of a word 1 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Historical sound change 2 1 Loss of unstressed vowel 2 2 Loss of any sound 3 Poetic device 4 Informal speech 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 BibliographyEtymology EditApheresis comes from Greek ἀfairesis aphairesis taking away from ἀfairew aphaireo from ἀpo apo away and aἱrew haireo to take 1 Aphetism ˈ ae f ɪ t ɪ z em comes from Greek ἄfesis aphesis letting go from ἀfihmi aphiemi from ἀpo apo away and ἵhmi hiemi send forth Historical sound change EditIn historical phonetics and phonology the term apheresis is often limited to the loss of an unstressed vowel The Oxford English Dictionary gives that particular kind of apheresis the name aphesis ˈ ae f ɪ s ɪ s from Greek ἄfesis Loss of unstressed vowel Edit Greek episkopos gt Vulgar Latin e biscopus gt Old English bisceop bishop English acute gt cute English because informal cause Middle English Egipcien gt gipcyan gipsen Gypsy 2 English alone gt lone English amend gt mend Old French e s vanisse gt Middle English vanisshen vanish Loss of any sound Edit English k nife ˈnaɪf Portuguese estar gt colloquial tar Proto Norse st randa gt Swedish strand gt Finnish ranta beach Latin Hispania gt Italian Spagna Spain Old English cneo gt English knee ˈniː Poetic device EditEnglish it is gt poetic tis English upon gt pon English eleven gt levenInformal speech EditSynchronic apheresis is more likely to occur in informal speech than in careful speech scuse me vs excuse me How bout that and How about that It typically supplies the input enabling acceptance of apheresized forms historically such as especially gt specially The result may be doublets such as especially and specially or the pre apheresis form may fail to survive Old French eschars gt English scarce An intermediate status is common in which both forms continue to exist but lose their transparent semantic relationship abate decrease moderate with bate now confined to the locution with bated breath with breath held back See also Edit Look up apheresis or aphaeresis in Wiktionary the free dictionary Apocope Elision Initial dropping List of phonetics topics SyncopeReferences EditNotes Edit a b Campbell Lyle 2007 Glossary of Historical Linguistics Edinburgh University Press p 13 ISBN 978 0 7486 3019 6 Online Etymology Dictionary Gypsy Retrieved 2010 07 13 Bibliography Edit Alexander James D 1988 Aphesis in English Word 39 29 65 Crowley Terry 1997 An Introduction to Historical Linguistics 3rd edition Oxford University Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Apheresis linguistics amp oldid 1102993664, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
