Paragoge (/ˌpærəˈɡi/) is the addition of a sound to the end of a word. It is a type of vowel epenthesis.[citation needed]

Paragoge is most often linked with the nativization of loanwords. It is particularly common in Brazilian Portuguese, not only in loanwords but also in word derivation. It is also present in the accents of many Brazilians while speaking foreign languages such as English.[1]

Some languages have undergone paragoge as a sound change, and modern forms are longer than the historical forms they are derived from. Italian sono 'I am', from Latin sum, is an example. Sometimes, as above, the paragogic vowel is an echo vowel, such as Proto-Oceanic *saqat "bad" > Uneapa zaɣata.

Etymology

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The word paragoge is taken from Ancient Greek: παραγωγή 'deviation; language alteration': from παρα- prefix para- 'beside' and ἀγωγή agogē 'bringing in'.[citation needed]

In loanwords

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Some languages add a sound to the end of a loanword when it would otherwise end in a forbidden sound. Some languages add a grammatical ending to the end of a loanword to make it declinable.

Examples

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Grammatical endings

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In inherited words

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Paragoge can occur in the inherited words of a language as well. This is the case with many words in Romance languages and Austronesian languages.

Examples

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References

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  1. ^ Major, Roy C. (June 1986). "Paragoge and degree of foreign accent in Brazilian English". Second Language Research. 2 (1): 53–71. doi:10.1177/026765838600200104. S2CID 143765687.

Sources

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  • Crowley, Terry (1997): An Introduction to Historical Linguistics. 3rd edition. Oxford University Press.
  • Sorbet, Piotr (2019): "El mecanismo de paragoge". In: LÓPEZ GONZÁLEZ, Antonio María, KOBYŁECKA-PIWOŃSKA, Ewa, KŁOSIŃSKA-NACHIN, Agnieszka, BARAN, Marek (eds.): Voces dialogantes, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego, 375-384.