From: dirk elzinga <dirk.elzinga@...>
> On Fri, 12 Nov 1999, Dr. David E. Bell wrote:
>
> > From: Paul Bennett <Paul.Bennett@...>
> > > I think the actual term may be ablaut, now I come to re-read it.
> > Basically, one
> > > of more vowels in a noun changes to a similar vowel to mark the
plural.
> >
> > Actually I've seen both terms used for this kind of inflection. anyone
know
> > what the distinction really is between umlaut and ablaut?
>
> Umlaut is a change in vocalism which is triggered by a vowel somewhere
> else, usually a suffix. Ablaut is a change in vocalism which is also the
> primary exponent of some morphological category. A couple of English
> examples:
>
> old -> elder
> the stem vowel changes because of the suffix: umlaut
>
> sing-sang-sung
> the stem vowel changes to mark past tense and the past
> participle
Ah, thank you Dirk. I'm not sure I have heard either of these terms used
this consistently. however. Good definitions and good examples. Thanks
again
David