Phonology

The Effects of Suffixes on Word Stress

Dwita Putri Oktavia (A 121 17 129)
Rengganis Rekhavitri (A 121 17 153)
 What is Suffixes / Suffix?

In linguistics, a suffix (sometimes

termed postfix) is an affix which is placed
after the stem of a word.
Neutral Suffixes Neutral suffixes are suffixes that do
not attract stress. The stress of the
base word remains when such a
suffix is attached to the base.
 Propose + (-al) = Proposal
 Free + (-dom) = Freedom
 Child + (-hood) =
Childhood
 Tonic suffix are suffixes that have
Tonic Suffixes
tense (long) vowels. These suffixes
attract stress to the suffixes.
 Employ + (-ee) =
Employee
 Cart + (-oon) = Cartoon
 Java + (-nese) = Javanese
Posttonic Suffixes Posttonic suffixes attract the stress
to the syllable immediately preceding
the suffixes.

 Arab + (-ic) = Arabic

 Economy + (-ics) =
Economics
 Adopt + (-ion) = Adoption
 In conclusion, with respect to stress, suffixes are
classified into three types :

1. Neutral suffixes or suffixes which have no

Conclusion
effects on stress placement.
2. Tonic suffixes, which atrract stress to the
syllable containing the suffixes.
3. Post-tonic suffix or suffixes, which atrract
stress to the syllable (immadiately) preceding
the syllable containing the suffixes.