Questions tagged [phonology]
The study of the abstract aspect of the sounds or *phonemes* in a given language.
1,104 questions
27
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Is the seeming relation between the sound /n/ and negativity purely coincidental?
I have noticed that in many languages, words for "no", negative verb forms, etc. often begin with the sound /n/. Although I understand it is by no means universal, is there any relationship between ...
- 744
19
votes
6
answers
902
views
Which phenomena compensate for sound losses in languages?
There is a tendency in all of the world’s languages to drop word sounds, especially unstressed syllables. One example is the word for “winter” in Proto-Algonquian, “peponwi”, which developed into “aa” ...
- 8,308