Packet 6: Tossup 20

Specific term required. Johann Schleyer’s inordinate love of this linguistic feature is often blamed for undermining his conlang Volapük. (15[1])In languages (15[1])like English, the “reverse” form of this modification occurs in the simple past form of some weak verbs in addition to the normal dental suffix. (15[1])This feature is phonologically predictable, unlike a similarly-named process found in the verb forms “sing,” “sang,” (15[1]-5[1])and “sung.” Historically, (15[1])this modification occurred (15[1])when suffixes like “-iz” induced the (*) raising of front vowels and the fronting of back vowels, (10[1])leading to plural forms like “geese” and “men.” This (10[1])modification’s (-5[1])name means “sound alternation” (10[1])in a language (10[2])that indicates it with an “e” after a vowel (-5[1])or a namesake diaeresis. (10[3]-5[1])For 10 points, (10[1])name this modification (10[1])indicated by two dots (10[1])over (-5[1])the (10[4]-5[1])“u” (10[4])in the (10[1])German (10[1])word (10[3])“über.” (10[2]-5[2])■END■ (10[5]0[7])

Back to tossups

Buzzes

Summary