Allomorph

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An allomorph is a different form of the same morpheme. It changes its sound or spelling, but its meaning stays the same. It follows rules in a language. It helps in understanding how words change in different situations.

A morpheme can have different allomorphs depending on pronunciation or grammar. The meaning does not change. The form changes based on the sounds or structure of the word.

Types of Allomorphs

1. Phonological Allomorph

A phonological allomorph changes its pronunciation based on nearby sounds. Examples:

  • The plural "-s" sounds different in different words:

    • "cats" (/s/ sound)
    • "dogs" (/z/ sound)
    • "buses" (/ɪz/ sound)

  • The past tense "-ed" sounds different in different words:

    • "walked" (/t/ sound)
    • "played" (/d/ sound)
    • "wanted" (/ɪd/ sound)

2. Morphological Allomorph

A morphological allomorph changes completely in form. It does not follow a pattern. It replaces one form of a morpheme with another. Examples:

  • The past tense of "go" is "went" (not "goed").
  • The plural of "child" is "children" (not "childs").
  • The comparative form of "good" is "better" (not "gooder").

3. Lexical Allomorph

A lexical allomorph changes based on the word it is attached to. It depends on specific word conditions. Examples:

  • The plural of "mouse" is "mice" (not "mouses").
  • The plural of "ox" is "oxen" (not "oxes").
  • The article "a" changes to "an" before a vowel sound ("a car" vs. "an apple").

Conclusion

An allomorph is a different version of a morpheme that changes in form but keeps the same meaning. It changes because of pronunciation, grammar, or word conditions. It helps in understanding how words are formed and used in language.

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