Editing 1697: Intervocalic Fortition
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | The linguistic processes of | + | {{incomplete|Title text needs an explanation.}} |
+ | The linguistic processes of [[wikipedia:Lenition|lenition]] ("weakening") and [[wikipedia:Fortition|fortition]] ("strengthening") refer to a sound becoming, respectively, either more or less prominent over time in a systematic way. An unvoiced consonant like ''f'' in between two vowels (which by definition are voiced) is more noticeable and takes more effort to pronounce than the voiced version ''v'' of the same sound in that position, so this would be an example of fortition. As a rule, however, lenition is much more common, and in fact one of the most common regular changes observed across languages is the kind of lenition that is the precise opposite of this: An unvoiced consonant between two vowels comes to be spoken, over time, as a voiced consonant, such as the middle consonant in the word "butter" that in American English is now pronounced as ''d'' rather than ''t''. Observing a pattern of fortition rather than lenition in that position (especially for just one particular consonant) would be a very puzzling phenomenon to future linguists. | ||
'''Examples for the suggested change are:''' | '''Examples for the suggested change are:''' | ||
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− | + | beafer instead of beaver | |
− | + | salfage instead of salvage | |
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− | + | '''Title Text''' | |
− | + | English phonotactics tend to discourage final or unstressed /ɛ/. Exceptions tend to be monosyllabic interjections, including: | |
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+ | * meh | ||
+ | * heh | ||
+ | * eh | ||
+ | * yeh | ||
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+ | The word 'meh', is an interjection used to express boredom or indifference. Its use surged in popularity following its use in various episodes of the animated TV show, The Simpsons. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[Cueball | + | :[Cueball whispering into a friend's ear.] |
− | :Cueball: Psst | + | :Cueball: Psst - teach your kids to pronounce V's in the middle of words as F's, but don't write down why you're doing it. |
:Cueball: Pass it on. | :Cueball: Pass it on. | ||
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:My hobby: Playing pranks on future linguists | :My hobby: Playing pranks on future linguists | ||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
+ | [[Category:Language]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
[[Category:My Hobby]] | [[Category:My Hobby]] | ||
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