Epenthesis

**Epenthesis** is a term in phonology. It refers to adding one or more sounds to a word.

If it is added at the beginning, it is called _prothesis_. If added at the end of the word, it is called _paragoge_. There are two types of epenthesis:  when a consonant is added, and  when a vowel is added. The opposite process where one or more sounds are removed is called **elision**.

## Uses

Epenthesis can happen for many reasons. The rules of how sounds are placed in a language may not allow vowels next to each other, but in different syllables. Some consonant clusters may not be allowed. In this situation a consonant or vowel can be added to make pronunciation easier. Epenthesis may be shown in writing or may happen in spoken language.

### Separating vowels

A consonant can be added to separate spoken vowels in hiatus. This happens with linking and intrusive R, which is a rule that puts an 'r' in a place where it doesn't normally happen.

- _drawing_ →  _draw**r**ing_ (in speech).

### Linking consonant clusters

A consonant can be placed between consonants in a consonant cluster where the place of articulation is different (e.g.,  where one consonant is labial (pronounced with the lips) and the other is alveolar.

- _something_ → _some**p**thing_ (but not in standard English).

### Breaking consonant clusters

A vowel can be placed between consonants to separate them.

- _Hamtramck_  →  _Hamtram**i**ck_

Regular examples in English are _-i-_, used in making words from Latin such as _equ**i**distant_, and _-o-_, used in making words from Greek roots or general compound words, as in _speed**o**meter_.

### Sound change in history

- Latin  > French  ("to tremble")
- Old English  > English _thunder_
- French ,  > English _messenger_, _passenger_
- French ,  > Portuguese ,
- Latin  > _homne_ > _homre_ > Spanish  ("man")

### Rules in present-day languages

In French,  is placed in inverted interrogative phrases between a verb that ends in a vowel and a pronoun that begins with a vowel:  ('he has') >  ('has he?').  Because the  come from Latin  ('he has') there is no epenthesis from the point of view of history. This is because the  is the original third-person verb inflection. However it is correct to call it epenthesis in the modern language because the modern basic form of the verb is , so the way the process works in the mind is to add a  to the basic form.

A similar example is the English indefinite article _a_, which becomes _an_ before a vowel. It comes from Old English _ān_ ("one, a, an"), which kept an _n_ in all positions. From a diachronic (historical) analysis, the original _n_ disappears, except if a following vowel needs for it to stay: _an_ > _a_. However, with a synchronic analysis people can also see it as epenthesis: _a_ > _an_. This is how most native speakers see it.

In Dutch, when the suffix _-er_ (which has several meanings) is placed after a word which already ends in _-r_, another  is put in the middle. For example, the comparative form (the form people use to compare things) of the adjective _zoet_ ("sweet") is _zoeter_, but the comparative of _zuur_ ("sour") is _zuur**d**er_ and not the expected *. The same happens with the agent (someone who does something) noun form of _verkopen_ ("to sell") which is _verkoper_ ("salesperson"), but the agent noun of _uitvoeren_ ("to perform") is _uitvoer**d**er_ ("performer").

### Variable rule

In English, people often add a stop consonant in nasal + fricative combinations:

- English <span>_hamster _/ˈhæmstər/</span>_ _often pronounced with an added _p_ sound, GA:  or RP:
- English _warmth_  /ˈwɔːrmθ/  often pronounced with an added _p_ sound, GA:  or RP:
- English _fence_ /ˈfɛns/  often pronounced

## Sources

- Crowley, Terry. (1997) _An Introduction to Historical Linguistics._ 3rd edition. Oxford University Press.

## Other websites

- Definition at BYU