Apocope

Apocope

In Phonology, Apocope represents the cutting off or loss of one or more sounds or letter at the end of a word. In another term, it can be refer to the loss of any final sound from a word (e.g Campbell (2007)). It affect not just only for simplified word, but also changes the way we pronounce it, as well as the sound it makes.

Origin

From Dictionary (e.g Merriam-Webster). The word "Apocope" comes from Greek word "ἀποκοπή" (apokopḗ) from "ἀποκόπτειν" (apokóptein) which means "cutting off". (apo-) is "away from" while (kóptein) is "to cut". Just like the definition is, either we cut some words or make it disappear.

Comment

Smyth (1956) sees in literature terms, Apocope is confined to poetry, but in the prose inscriptions of the dialects it is frequent. Apocope is basically a language techniques and functions in writing and speech. Sometimes we don't know anything nor applying in terms of familiarity. Usually we merge some word like do not to form don't, these are type of contracting the words. From the origin, apocope is the omission of one or more letters, sounds, or syllables from the end of a word. Its more simplified or even more recognizable and evolved. Apocope its function in another language, not just English.

Related Terms

• Apheresis
• Syncope

Other

In Popular places, we usually heard a place like (Gym, Zoo). Its actually an Apocope from (Gymnasium, Zoological Garden). In Society life, sometimes we have a friend with a long name, or that are quite difficult to pronounce. And we simplified like (Jackson > Jack), (Marcus > Marc), and many more.

Example

From	To
Photograph	Photo
Advertisement	Ad
Public House	Pub
Laboratory	Lab
Tobias	Toby
Giorgino	Gio
Alexander	Alex
Lufu {Old English}	Love
Primero {Spanish}	Primer
Bueno {Spanish}	Buen

Other Language

Greek : ἀποκοπή

Deutsch : Die Apokope

Spanish : Apócope

References

• Campbell, Lyle (2007). Glossary of Historical Linguistics. Edinburgh University Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-7486-3019-6.
• Crowley, Terry (1997). An Introduction to Historical Linguistics . 3rd edition. Oxford University Press.
• Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Apocope. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary.
• Smyth, Herbert Weir (1956). A Greek Grammar For Colleges. Revised Edition. p. 23. ISBN 978-0674362505