Suprafix
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Suprafix"
.

In linguistics, a suprafix is a type of affix where a suprasegmental change (such as tone or stress) modifies an existing morpheme's meaning. In many languages, they are used to differentiate between otherwise identical lexemes, but in some they are used derivationally or inflectionally.

An example in English is proDUCE and PROduce, the former being a verb meaning to create or to bring forth, and the latter being an initial-stress-derived noun referring to farm products, especially fruits and vegetables.

Another is Mandarin 好 hǎo (to be good) and 好 hào (to find good), where the tone changes from low to falling.

See also

content
 This linguistic morphology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
© jGames.co.uk 2007 (some content from Wikipedia under GDL ) !-- ValueClick Media 468x60 and 728x90 Banner CODE for jgames.co.uk -->
Your Ad Here