2. DEFINITION
• ALLOMORPHS: Variations of Morphemes.
Allomorphs are different forms of the same
morpheme, or basic unit of meaning. These
can be different pronunciations or different
spellings.
An allomorphs is «any of the differents forms
of a morpheme» ( Richards, Platt &
weber, 1987)
3. The allomorphs of a morpheme are derived
from phonological rules and any morphonemic
rules that may apply to that morpheme.
Examples of allomorphs:
1. The plural morphemes in English, usually
written as s , has at least 3 allomorphons:
s as in judges yudgis
z as in dogs
dogz
IZ as in boxes
boksiz
4. 2. The past form morpheme ed usually has also
three allomorphos:
d as in ‘hunted’
h>ntd
t as in ‘fished’
fistt
id as in ‘buzzed’
buzid
3. The negative morpheme changes ‘n’ the
prefix in to the consononant of the word it
prefixes:
6. TYPES OF ALLOMORPHS
1. ADDITIVE ALLOMORPHS
The suffix – ed wich can be pronounced as
either / -t/, or /-d/ or /-Id/:
ask + - ed / a : sk/ + / -t/
liv(e) + ed / llv/ + / -d/
Need + - ed /nid:d/ + / -Id
8. SUPPLETIVE ALLOMORPHS
GO + the suppletive allomorph of - D1 =
went
Be + the suppletive allomorph of - S3 = is
Bad + the suppletive allomorph of - er1 =
worse
Good + the suppletive allomorph of - est1 =
best.
9. ZERO ALLOMORPH
The past tense form of hurt is formed by
adding the zero allomorph of -D1 to this
word.
HURT
HURT