METATHESIS Meaning and
Definition
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Metathesis is a phonological process in language whereby sounds or syllables within a word change positions, resulting in a rearrangement of sounds. It involves the swapping or transposition of segments, syllables, or even whole words. This process of rearrangement occurs either as a natural linguistic change or as a phonological rule in a particular language.
In metathesis, the order of sounds or syllables is altered to create a new word form. This change can affect consonants, vowels, or both. For example, in the word "ask," metathesis occurs when the "s" and "k" sounds switch positions to form "aks." Another example is the English word "thirteen," where an earlier form "thri-tene" demonstrates metathesis with the reversal of "r" and "t" sounds.
Metathesis can also encompass the swapping of larger linguistic units like morphemes or words. For instance, in the English word "comfortable," the earlier form was "comfortabel" due to the metathesis of "r" and "t" sounds, as well as the swapping of "a" and "o" vowels.
While metathesis can sometimes be considered a linguistic irregularity or an error in pronunciation, it can also be a regular feature in certain languages or dialects. It often occurs to ease articulatory difficulties related to complex sound sequences or to enhance euphony or ease of pronunciation. Metathesis contributes to the evolution of language, resulting in variations within different dialects and regional accents.
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The transfer of a pathological product from one place to another where it causes less inconvenience or injury, when it is not possible or expedient to remove it from the body.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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A figure of speech designating the transposing of the letters or syllables of a word.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for METATHESIS *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for METATHESIS
Etymology of METATHESIS
The word "metathesis" is derived from the Ancient Greek term "metáthesis" (μετάθεσις), which means "transposition", "change", or "rearrangement". The term is formed by combining the prefix "meta-" (μετά), which indicates "change" or "beyond", and the noun "tithemi" (τίθημι), meaning "to place" or "to put". So, "metathesis" essentially refers to the process of transposing or rearranging elements.
Similar spelling words for METATHESIS
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