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Simulfix

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In linguistics, a simulfix is a type of affix that changes one or more existing phonemes in order to modify the meaning of a morpheme.

Examples of simulfixes in English are generally considered irregularities, all of which left over from pluralization rules that existed before the Great Vowel Shift. They include:

  • manmen, womanwomen
  • louselice, mousemice
  • footfeet, toothteeth

The transfixes of the Semitic languages may be considered a form of discontinuous simulfix.

See also