apophonic Definition
relating to or denoting a change in the form or sound of a word that indicates a change in grammatical function but not in meaning, such as the vowel alternation between sing, sang, and sung..
Using apophonic: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "apophonic" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
In English, the apophonic vowel change in 'sing, sang, sung' indicates a change in tense.
Example
Apophonic changes are common in many languages, including Arabic and Hebrew.
Example
The apophonic process can also be seen in the formation of plurals, such as 'foot, feet.'
Origins of apophonic
from Greek 'apophōnikos', from 'apophōnein' meaning 'to give voice to'
Summary: apophonic in Brief
The term 'apophonic' [ˌæpəˈfɒnɪk] refers to a change in the form or sound of a word that indicates a change in grammatical function but not in meaning. This is exemplified by the vowel alternation between 'sing, sang, sung,' which indicates a change in tense. Apophonic changes are common in many languages, including Arabic and Hebrew, and can also be seen in the formation of plurals, such as 'foot, feet.'
