How Do You Spell CLITIC?

Pronunciation: [klˈɪtɪk] (IPA)

The word "clitic" is commonly used in linguistics to refer to a morpheme that attaches to a host word to form a single word. Its spelling is based on the Greek root "clisis," which means "inflexion" or "bending." In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced as /ˈklɪtɪk/. The "c" is pronounced as a hard "k" sound, while the following "li" is pronounced as a short "i" sound. The final syllable "-tic" is pronounced with a short "i" and a hard "k" sound.

CLITIC Meaning and Definition

1. A clitic is a grammatical element that functions as both a word and an affix. It is typically a bound morpheme, which means it cannot stand alone as an independent word but must be attached to another word. Clitics are often phonologically weak and have reduced stress. They are closely linked to the word they attach to, forming a single prosodic unit.

   Unlike regular affixes, clitics do not change the grammatical category of the word they attach to. They can function as pronouns, determiners, or tense markers, among other things. Clitics are used to express various grammatical relationships, such as possession, negation, or agreement.

   One distinctive characteristic of clitics is their tendency to undergo phonological changes depending on the context they appear in. This is known as cliticization. For example, in English, the contraction of "not" to "n't" is a cliticization process.

   Clitics are found in many languages across the world, including Romance languages, Slavic languages, and Ancient Greek. They play a crucial role in the formation of grammatical structures and contribute to the overall coherence and functionality of a language.

   In summary, clitics are grammatical elements that function as both words and affixes, typically attached to other words. They are phonologically weak and have reduced stress, form a single prosodic unit with the attached word, and do not change the grammatical category of that word. Clitics undergo phonological changes and are used to express various grammatical relationships in different languages.

Common Misspellings for CLITIC

• xlitic
• vlitic
• flitic
• dlitic
• ckitic
• cpitic
• coitic
• clutic
• cljtic
• clktic
• clotic
• cl9tic
• cl8tic
• cliric
• clific
• cligic
• cliyic
• cli6ic
• cli5ic
• clituc

Etymology of CLITIC

The word "clitic" originates from the Greek word "klitikos". It comes from the Greek verb "klino", meaning "to lean" or "to incline". In linguistics, a clitic is a type of morpheme that behaves like a word, but does not stand alone as an independent unit. Instead, it tends to "lean" or attach itself to a neighboring word, forming a complex word or phrase. The term "clitic" was first used in linguistics in the early 20th century to describe this particular linguistic phenomenon.

Plural form of CLITIC is CLITICS