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Term: Stem Vowel

Description:

A stem vowel, also known as a root vowel or radical vowel, is the vowel sound that occurs at the core of a word, typically within the root or base of a word. It is the central vowel sound that does not change when affixes or suffixes are added to a word.

Senses and Usages:

1. Linguistics:

In linguistics, the term "stem vowel" refers to the vowel sound that remains unchanged in different word forms within a language.

Example: In the English word "sing," the stem vowel is /i/ as it remains the same in variations like "singing" or "sang."

2. Phonetics:

In phonetics, a stem vowel refers to the vowel sound that carries the primary stress within a word.

Example: In the word "history," the stem vowel is /ɪ/ because it carries the primary stress, and other syllables have reduced secondary vowel sounds.

3. Grammar:

In grammar, the stem vowel is the vowel sound within the root word before any affixes or suffixes are added.

Example: In the word "playful," the stem vowel is /eɪ/ as it appears in the root word "play" before the suffix "-ful" is added.