LinguisticsMovement (Metathesis) rule

英二乙 Group7 Jack Ivan Sherry Karen Stanley Leah

Metathesis ◎ Metathesis is the phenomenon whereby two sounds that appear in a particular order in one form of a word occur in the reverse order in a related form of the word. For example, in the Austronesian language Leti, the linear ordering of the final consonant and vowel of a word can differ depending on a number of factors. One factor is whether the following word begins with a single consonant or a consonant cluster (or geminate consonant).

Example 1.In the first case, the order of the segments is vowel, consonant, as in ukar lavan 'finger + big = thumb, big toe'. 2.In the second case, you get the order consonant, vowel: ukra ppalu 'finger + bachelor = index finger'.

◎ Phonological rules may also move phonemes from one place in string to another. Such rules are called metathesis rules. In some dialects of English, for example the word ask is pronounced [aks], but the word asking is pronounced [askin] or [aski&]. In these dialects, metathesis rule ''switches'' the /s/ and /k/ in certain contexts. In Old English the verb was aksian, with the /k/ preceding the /s/.A historical metathesis-rule switched these two consonants, producing ask in most dialects of English.

◎ Spoonerisms are also good (and entertaining) examples of metathesis, though they may happen at rather long distances; 1. A lack of pies (a pack of lies) 2. Tease my ears (Ease my tears) 3. It’s roaring with pain (It’s pouring with rain) 4. Wave the sails (Save the whales) 5. Crooks and nannies (Nooks and crannies )

While metathesis is not as common as other processes affecting sounds in language, such as assimilation or deletion, it does, nonetheless, occur as a regular phonological process in synchronic systems in a wide range of languages.

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