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
Apparently, there is a few noun which similarity with Apocope. First one is Aphaeresis, which is the Antonym of Apocope, its cutting off at the start of the word (Example > Sample). Second one is Syncope, is the add of a word in between a word (Rest(au)rant). And last one is like a combination for Aphaeresis and Apocope (Influenza > Flu).
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
