| 释义 |
aphesis noun[ U ] phonetics specializeduk /ˈæf.ə.sɪs/ us /ˈæf.ə.sɪs/ the gradual loss of an unstressed(= weak) vowel sound at the beginning of a word, for example "lone" from "alone": To a certain degree, aphesis may be observed in any informal variety of English. These changes could be the result of aphesis, in which words are eroded of their initial unstressed vowels. Word-initial vowels seem to disappear more often than consonants, and we call this process aphesis. He is doing research on aphesis in the English sound system. The effect of aphesis can be seen in many creole words for "American", such as "meriken" in Haitian. Aphesis is a phenomenon that we associate with spoken language and is common in creoles and pidgins. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases Linguistics: phonology & phonetics accommodation alliterative alveolar apheresis aphetic assonance diphthong homonym intrusive labial labialize labiodental lateral postconsonantal retroflex retroflexion rhotic rhyme unpronounceable unrepeatable
Related word
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