Haplology is defined as the elimination of a syllable when two consecutive identical or similar syllables occur. The phenomenon was identified by American philologist Maurice Bloomfield in the 20th century.^[1] Linguists sometimes jokingly refer to the phenomenon as "haplogy" (subjecting the word "haplology" to haplology).

Conditions

1) Syllables are both medial; and

2) The structure of the two syllables is similar.

Example

• Basque: sagarrardo > sagardo 'apple cider'
• English (colloquial):
  • Engla land > England ^[1]
  • particularly > particuly
  • pierced-ear earrings > pierced earrings ^[1]
  • probably > probly
• Latin: nutritrix > nutrix 'nurse'

See also

• Haplography

References

• Crowley, Terry. (1997) An Introduction to Historical Linguistics. 3rd edition. Oxford University Press.

1. ↑ ^{a b c}