O. HOMOPHONES
A homophone is a word that sounds like another word but has a different meaning and a different spelling. In morphology, it must be remembered that homophones are different morphemes.
NOTE: In morphology, it must be remembered that homophones are different morphemes.
Examples:
1. Did you like the meet? /mit/ ( track meet)
2. Did you like the meat ? /mit/ ( roast beef)
Those two homophonous words are two different morphemes.
The same is true for bound forms:
1. Verbal inflectional suffix: It feels /-z/ good
2. Noun plural inflectional suffix: Those frogs /-z/
3. Noun possessive inflectional suffix: John’s /-z/ book
Those three homophonous /-z/ -s are three different morphemes.
• Homophones are words that sound alike but differ in meaning:
Examples:
_ heir, air
_ pare, pair, pear
• It is important to remember that words like these are different morphemes.
• The same applies to bound morphemes:
Examples:
_ It feels /-z/ good.
_ Those frogs /-z/
_ John’s /-z/ book
Source:
Stageberg, Norman C. and Dallin D. Oaks (2000). An Introductory English Grammar , Heinle, Boston:USA.
