intervocalic etymology

Etymology

• Intervocalic comes from the Latin words:
  • inter ("between")
  • vocalis ("vowel")

Meaning

Intervocalic refers to something that occurs or is located between two vowels. It is a term used in linguistics and phonology to describe certain sounds or phenomena that only happen when surrounded by vowels.

Origin

The term intervocalic was first coined in the 19th century by Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist who is considered one of the founders of modern linguistics. He used the term to describe certain sounds that undergo a change in pronunciation when they are located between two vowels.

Examples

• In English, the sound /t/ is represented by the letter "t". However, when /t/ is located between two vowels, it is pronounced with a "d" sound. For example, the word "water" is pronounced as "wadder". This change is known as intervocalic voicing.
• In French, the sound /s/ is represented by the letter "s". However, when /s/ is located between two vowels, it is pronounced with a "z" sound. For example, the word "maison" is pronounced as "mazong". This change is known as intervocalic voicing.
• In Spanish, the sound /b/ is represented by the letter "b". However, when /b/ is located between two vowels, it is pronounced with a "v" sound. For example, the word "lobo" is pronounced as "lovo". This change is known as intervocalic devoicing.

Intervocalic sounds are common in many languages around the world. They can affect the pronunciation of words and can sometimes lead to changes in meaning.

intervocalic relate terms

• vowel

  Etymology The word vowel is derived from the Latin word vox meaning voice This i

• entertain

  Etymology Derivatives of the word entertain include Old French entartenir to hol

• enterprise

  Etymology The term enterprise has its origins in the Old French word entreprendre fo

• intelligence

  Etymology Latin intelligentia understanding knowledge wisdom From inter among

• oligarchy

  Etymology Greek oligarchia oligos few arkhos leader Meaning and Origin Ol

• courage

  Etymology French courage Latin cor heart Proto Indo European ḱr̥d heart

• expert

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanin

• draconian

  Etymology Draconian comes from the Latin word dracō meaning dragon or serpent

• chorus

  Etymology Late Latin chorus Greek khoros a dancing place from khoreia dance Me

• curious

  Curious Etymology Middle English curious from Old French curious from Latin cur

• sacrifice

  Etymology The word sacrifice originates from the Latin word sacrificium which is der

• figure

  Etymology The word figure comes from the Latin word figura which means shape for