Homophones and Homographs in Linguistics

Study Notes

Homophones and homographs are linguistic phenomena involving words with different meanings.
They differ in how they sound and how they are spelled.

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and often different spellings.
Examples: "bare" and "bear", "to" and "too", "write" and "right"
Homophones can cause confusion in writing and speech because they sound identical but have different meanings.
Understanding the context is crucial for determining which homophone is intended.

Homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings, and they may or may not sound the same when pronounced.
Examples: "tear" (to rip) and "tear" (a drop of moisture from the eye), "lead" (to guide) and "lead" (a metal)
Homographs can also lead to confusion, especially in written communication, where the context might not always clarify which meaning is intended.
In speech, the pronunciation often differs based on the intended meaning.

The primary difference lies in whether they sound the same (homophones) or are spelled the same (homographs).
Both homophones and homographs involve words with multiple meanings, but the distinction lies in whether those meanings are associated with identical sounds or spellings.

Fluency devices, also known as fluency enhancers or speech fillers, are linguistic tools used to maintain a smooth and continuous flow of speech during communication.
Examples of fluency devices include filler words, hesitation markers, discourse markers, repetition, and paraphrasing.
Fluency devices help speakers bridge pauses, hesitations, or gaps in their speech, allowing them to convey their message more effectively.
Fluency devices are commonly employed in both spontaneous conversation and public speaking contexts to enhance coherence and maintain listener engagement.

Filler words are words or phrases used to occupy space in speech and provide speakers with time to formulate their thoughts.
Examples of filler words include "um," "uh," "well," "you know," and "like."

Hesitation markers are expressions or sounds that indicate uncertainty or hesitation, signaling to listeners that the speaker is pausing to consider their next words.
Examples of hesitation markers include "let me see," "hmm," "uhh," and "err."

Discourse markers are words or phrases used to signal transitions, organize information, or indicate the speaker's attitude or stance.
Examples of discourse markers include "so," "anyway," "okay," "now," "well then," and "by the way."

Repetition involves repeating words, phrases, or sentences for emphasis, clarification, or reinforcement of key points.
Examples of repetition include "I mean," "you know what I mean," and "I said."

Paraphrasing involves restating or rephrasing ideas using different words or expressions to enhance clarity or highlight important information.
Examples of paraphrasing include "in other words," "to put it differently," and "what I'm trying to say is."

Assimilation is a phonological process in which one speech sound becomes more like a neighboring sound in terms of one or more phonetic characteristics.
Assimilation can affect various aspects of speech sounds, including voicing, place of articulation, and manner of articulation.

Progressive assimilation occurs when a sound is influenced by a following sound.
Regressive assimilation occurs when a sound is influenced by a preceding sound.
Coalescent assimilation occurs when two adjacent sounds merge to form a single sound with characteristics of both.
Examples of assimilation include the pronunciation of the final /n/ sound in "impossible" as a bilabial nasal [m], the initial /n/ sound in "handbag" as a velar nasal [ŋ], and the merger of /n/ and /p/ sounds in "ten pounds" to produce a nasalized [m] sound.