Happy 30th #morphememonday everyone!
Instead of focusing on a prefix, root, and suffix, this week we are going to focus on the black sheep of the affix family, the connector vowel.
Now like the black sheep of any family, some of the information out there about the connector vowel is true, but there are also some bits of information that well-intentioned people have gotten wrong.
In this post, I will try to set the record straight about what linguists consider to be the connecting vowel letter, or more informally the connector. In some programs, it is also referred to as a connective.
Words that can trace at least some of their origin back to Greek or Latin can contain connecting vowel letters.
The three connecting vowel letters <e>, <i>, and <u>, can trace their origin back to Latin. The Greek connecting vowel letter is <o>.
Connecting vowel letters are used to bridge the transition between morphemes. They can connect a base element with another base element (Example: <cone> + <i> + <fer> -> conifer), connect a base element to a suffix (Example: <grade> + <u> + <ate> -> graduate), or they can connect a suffix to another suffix (Example: <vore> + <ace> + <i> + <ous> -> voracious .
However, connectors never connect a prefix to a base element.
If you are a regular reader of #morphememondays, you will know that I typically post a prefix, root, and suffix. This is done for consistency between posts. Technically speaking, when we feature a ‘prefix’ or ‘root’ of Greek origin, they are actually Greek combining forms. This is always noted in the notes about the morpheme.
We have chosen to call them a ‘prefix’ or a ‘root’ because many of the more familiar reading programs teach them this way.
It is important to highlight this because Greek combining forms can be found in different places within the word. This is why in words of Greek origin, you can find the connecting vowel letter after something that might have been taught as a prefix.
The Greek connecting vowel letter <o> is always its own syllable within a word. This syllable can be stressed (photography) or unstressed (photograph) (Cook, July 19, 2018).
The Latin connecting vowel letters <e>, <i>, and <u>, may be syllabic or non-syllablic. More often than not, <e> and <u> are syllabic.
The connecting vowel letter <o> is not used when the second base element begins with a vowel.
Connecting vowel letters act like a suffix in some ways because it can replace the final <e> in a base element.
Example:
<line> + <e> + <ar> -> linear
<office> + <i> <al> -> official
However, it does not cause the final consonant to double in single short syllable base elements.
Example:
<strat> + <o> + <sphere> -> stratosphere
References:
Cook, G. (July 19, 2018). Connecting the Dots. https://linguisteducatorexchange.com/2018/07/19/connecting-the-dots/
Steven, S. (February 8, 2019). Mrs. Steven’s Classroom Blog. https://mbsteven.edublogs.org/2019/02/08/button-up-your-overcoat-when-the-wind-is-free-ruth-etting/
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