enclitic
Noun (Linguistics):
- A word that is pronounced with so little emphasis that it is shortened and forms part of the preceding word. In writing, it is often attached to the previous word with an apostrophe, as in English "don't" (do not) or "I'm" (I am).
- More specifically, an enclitic is a clitic that is attached to the end of a host word, as opposed to a proclitic, which attaches to the beginning.
Adjective (Linguistics):
- Relating to or denoting a word that is enclitic in nature; i.e., a word that leans on or is phonologically dependent on the preceding word.
Noun:
- In Latin, the word "que" is a common enclitic meaning "and," as in "senatus populusque Romanus" (the Senate and the Roman people). (The enclitic "que" is attached to the end of "populus.")
- The English word "not" can become an enclitic in contractions like "can't" or "won't." (The enclitic "n't" is shortened and attached to the preceding verb.)
Adjective:
- The enclitic form of "is" appears in "it's" (it is), where the verb is reduced and attached. (The enclitic nature of "is" is shown in the contraction.)
"Enclitic" in grammatical analysis: Enclitics are often used in Indo-European languages to mark case, conjunction, or emphasis. For example, in Ancient Greek, the enclitic "τι" (ti) can mean "something" and attaches to the previous word.
- The enclitic "ge" in Homeric Greek adds emphasis, as in "ἐγώ γε" (egō ge) meaning "I at least." (The enclitic "ge" leans on the pronoun "egō.")
Distinction from proclitic: An enclitic attaches to the end of a host word, while a proclitic attaches to the beginning. For example, in French, "je" is a proclitic before a verb (je parle), but "le" can be an enclitic after an imperative (parle-le).
Enclisis (n): the process or phenomenon of a word becoming an enclitic.
- Enclisis is common in spoken English, where pronouns and auxiliary verbs are reduced. (The process of attaching a word to the end of the previous word.)
Encliticize (v): to use or treat a word as an enclitic.
- In rapid speech, speakers often encliticize "have" to create "I've." (To make a word into an enclitic form.)
Proclitic (n): a word that attaches to the beginning of a host word, opposite of enclitic.
- The French "l'" in "l'homme" is a proclitic. (A clitic that precedes its host.)
- Clitic: a general term for a word that is phonologically dependent on another word; enclitics are a subtype of clitics.
- Suffix-like word: a descriptive phrase for enclitics, as they behave like suffixes but are still considered separate words.
- There are no common idioms directly involving "enclitic," as it is a technical linguistic term. However, the concept is often discussed in the context of:
- "Lean on the preceding word": a metaphorical description of how enclitics function.
- The enclitic "ve" in "I've" leans on the preceding pronoun "I." (The enclitic depends on the host word for pronunciation.)