Exponent (linguistics)


An exponent is a phonological manifestation of a morphosyntactic property. In non-technical language, it is the expression of one or more grammatical properties by sound. There are several kinds of exponents:
  • Identity
  • Affixation
  • Reduplication
  • Internal modification
  • Subtraction

Identity

The identity exponent is both simple and common: it has no phonological manifestation at all.
An example in English:

Affixation

Affixation is the addition of an affix to a word.
Example in English:

Reduplication

Reduplication is the repetition of part of a word.
An example in Sanskrit:

Internal modification

There are several types of internal modification. An internal modification may be segmental, meaning it changes a sound in the root.
An example in English:
An internal modification might be a suprasegmental modification. An example would be a change in pitch or stress.
An example of the latter in English :

Subtraction

Subtraction is the removal of a sound or a group of sounds.
An example in French: