Final answer:
When combining English stems and suffixes, spelling changes are common to maintain pronunciation standards. Plurals of words ending in -y with a preceding consonant transform to -ies. Palatalization affects spelling by changing the sound and sometimes the spelling of consonants, as demonstrated by [ch] being spelled .
Step-by-step explanation:
Combining stems and suffixes in English can lead to changes in the spelling of the resulting word. This process is not just about adding one part to another, but it often involves a transformation to preserve pronunciation and adhere to standard spelling conventions.
Change in Spelling When Forming Plurals
When forming the plural of words that end in -y preceded by a consonant, the -y becomes -ies. Here, the stem is the main part of the word, and the suffix is the ending that modifies the meaning of the stem. For example:
- gallery + i + es = galler[ī]es
- hurry + i + es = hurr[ī]es
- marry + i + es = marr[ī]es
- study + i + es = stud[ī]es
- vary + i + es = var[ī]es
Palatalization and Spelling Changes
Words with the [ch] sound spelled as <t> involve a process called palatalization, where the pronunciation of a consonant becomes more like a 'ch' sound due to the influence of neighboring sounds, typically a 'u' after the 't'. The examples provided demonstrate this process:
- dis + gest + ion = digestion
- spirit + ual = spiritual
- question + er = questioner
- act + ual + ly = actually
- ad + vent + ure + ous = adventurous
- script + ure + al = scriptureal
- liter + ate + ure = literature
Understanding these transformations is essential for proper spelling and pronunciation in English.