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Concept
Epenthesis
Summary
In phonology, epenthesis (ɪˈpɛnθəsɪs,_ɛ-; Greek ἐπένθεσις) means the addition of one or more sounds to a word, especially in the beginning syllable (prothesis) or in the ending syllable (paragoge) or in-between two syllabic sounds in a word. The word epenthesis comes from epi- "in addition to" and en- "in" and thesis "putting". Epenthesis may be divided into two types: excrescence for the addition of a consonant, and for the addition of a vowel, svarabhakti (in Sanskrit) or alternatively anaptyxis (ˌænəpˈtɪksɪs). The opposite process, where one or more sounds are removed, is referred to as elision.
Epenthesis arises for a variety of reasons. The phonotactics of a given language may discourage vowels in hiatus or consonant clusters, and a consonant or vowel may be added to make pronunciation easier. Epenthesis may be represented in writing, or it may be a feature only of the spoken language.
A consonant may be added to separate vowels in hiatus, as is the case with linking and intrusive R in English.
drawing → draw-r-ing
A consonant may be placed between consonants in a consonant cluster where the place of articulation is different (such as if one consonant is labial and the other is alveolar).
something → somepthing
hamster → hampster
a-mrotos → ambrotos (see below)
A vowel may be placed between consonants to separate them.
Hamtramck → Hamtramick
While epenthesis most often occurs between two vowels or two consonants, it can also occur between a vowel and a consonant or at the ends of words. For example, the Japanese prefix 真〜(ま〜) transforms regularly to 真っ〜(まっ〜) when it is followed by a consonant, as in 真っ白(まっしろ). The English suffix -t, often found in the form -st, as in amongst (from among + -st), is an example of terminal excrescence.
SandhiLinking and intrusive R and Liaison (French)Excrescence is the epenthesis of a consonant.
Latin tremulare > French trembler ("to tremble")
Old English þunor > English thunder
French messager, passager > English messenger, passenger
French message, messager > Portuguese mensagem, mensageiro
(Reconstructed) Proto-Germanic *sēaną > Old English sāwan, Old Saxon sāian ("to sow")
(Reconstructed) Proto-Greek *amrotos > Ancient Greek ἄμβροτος ("immortal"; cf.
Official source
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