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history and change
Language history and change
| Term | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Sound loss | A sound that used to be pronounced in a word disappears. | The 'g' from 'gnaw' is no longer pronounced. |
| Epenthesis | A sound is added to the middle of a word. | The word 'time' became the word 'timber'. |
| Metathesis | Two sounds are reversed in position within a word. | The word 'bridd' became 'bird'. |
| Semantic broadening | The meaning of a word changes to become more general. | The word 'foda' (fodder) used to mean food. |
| Semantic narrowing | The meaning of a word becomes more specific. | The word 'mete' (meat) used to mean food in general. |