Simulfix is a type of affix that manifests itself in a change in one or more phonemes in a word to obtain a new meaning [1] .
English language
Examples of simulixes in the English language are usually considered exceptions to the plural formation rules that existed before the Great Vowel Shift . It:
- m a n → m e n (male to male), wom a n → wom e n (female to female)
- l ou se → l i ce (louse - lice), m ou se → m i ce (mouse - mice)
- f oo t → f ee t (foot - feet), t oo th → t ee th (tooth - teeth).
Also an example of simulfixes in the English language is the change of irregular verbs, for example beg i n - beg a n (begin - begin (a, o, and)).
Other languages
Transfixes in Semitic languages are often considered by linguists as simulfixes.
In the Indonesian language, as in English, simulfixes can be found in both nouns and verbs.
Notes
- ↑ Simulfix . SIL Glossary of Linguistic Terms (December 3, 2015). Date of treatment June 2, 2019.