barytonesis
English
editEtymology
editBorrowed from Ancient Greek βαρυτόνησις (barutónēsis).
Noun
editbarytonesis (uncountable)
- (phonology) The shift of accent from the last syllable of a stem or word to a preceding syllable.
- Antonym: oxytonesis
Usage notes
editBarytonesis occurred in Aeolic Greek, a dialect of Ancient Greek, in which words that originally had accent on the last syllable (ultima) have developed recessive accent (accent as far back from the last syllable as the rules for accent allow). The Attic dialect retains the accent on the last syllable.
Related terms
editFurther reading
edit- barytonesis on Wikipedia.Wikipedia