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a chemical reaction between two compounds in which parts of each are interchanged to form two new compounds (AB+CD=AD+CB)
a phonological process in which sounds or syllables in a word are rearranged or switched positions, resulting in a change in the order of phonemes or syllables within the word
What is "metathesis"?
Metathesis is a phonological process in which the order of sounds within a word is rearranged, often resulting in a change in pronunciation. This can happen due to ease of articulation or historical language evolution. An example in English is the common alteration of "ask" to "aks." Metathesis is significant in linguistics because it illustrates how speakers adapt language for ease of speech, and it can provide insights into language change and development over time. Understanding metathesis helps linguists study sound patterns and the dynamics of spoken language.
