English is considered 'opaque' because morphemes are spelled the same, even if their pronunciation changes from word to word. True or False?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking whether the statement regarding the English language — that it is considered 'opaque' due to the inconsistency in morpheme spelling and pronunciation — is true or false.

More Information

English is considered 'opaque' because morphemes, which are the smallest meaningful units in a language, often maintain their spelling even when pronunciation changes. This peculiarity exemplifies the morphophonemic nature of English, emphasizing morphology over phonetic transparency.

Tips

A common mistake is confusing semantic transparency with orthographic transparency. In English, spelling often retains morphological consistency rather than phonetic consistency.

Sources

• What are English morphemes, and why do they matter for spelling? - spelfabet.com.au
• Exploring the role of morphemes in word reading - deepblue.lib.umich.edu