VOCALISM AND THE PHENOMENON OF “O” LENGTHENING IN LINGUISTICS
Abstract
This study explores the phenomenon of “O” lengthening within the framework of vocalism in linguistics. It examines the articulatory, phonological, morphological, prosodic, and sociolinguistic factors that influence vowel duration. The paper highlights historical developments, cross-linguistic patterns, and the functional role of /o/ lengthening in lexical, grammatical, and stylistic contexts. Using evidence from Indo-European and non-Indo-European languages, the study demonstrates how vowel length contributes to phonemic contrast, morphological marking, and prosodic organization, emphasizing its cognitive and communicative significance.References
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