barytonesis

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek βαρυτόνησις (barutónēsis).

Noun

barytonesis (uncountable)

1. (phonology) The shift of accent from the last syllable of a stem or word to a preceding syllable.

   Antonym: oxytonesis

Usage notes

Barytonesis occurred in Aeolic Greek, a dialect of Ancient Greek, in which words that originally had accent on the last syllable (ultima) have developed recessive accent (accent as far back from the last syllable as the rules for accent allow). The Attic dialect retains the accent on the last syllable.

• Aeolic ὄρᾰνος (óranos), Attic οὐρᾰνός (ouranós)

Related terms

• barytone

Further reading

• barytonesis on Wikipedia.Wikipedia