word-initial
At the start
Word-initial describes a sound, letter, or element that occurs at the beginning of a word.
Linguists use the term when discussing where particular features appear: Word-initial consonant clusters like "str" are common in English.
The counterpart is word-final, for elements at the end.
Root-modifying front element
- affixWord-part modifier
- morphemeSmallest meaningful language unit
- rootUnderground absorbing structure
- stemPlant's central axis
derivation · affixation · compound · blend · truncation · clipping · acronym · initialism
Starting point of something
- consonantIn agreement with
- clusterGathered group nearby
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- glottalOf the throat opening
plosive · fricative · affricate · voiceless · voiced · nasal · phoneme · allophone
Regional speech pattern
- emphasisStress given to something
- prominenceNotable status or visibility
- iambTwo-syllable metrical foot
- trocheeStressed-then-unstressed foot
prosody · intonation · rhythm · cadence · pattern · primary · secondary · unstressed
prefix
Root-modifying front element
stem · derivation · affixation · compound · blend · truncation · clipping · acronym · initialism · inflection
onset
Starting point of something
- consonantIn agreement with
- clusterGathered group nearby
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
glottal · plosive · fricative · affricate · voiceless · voiced · nasal · phoneme · allophone · articulation
accent
Regional speech pattern
- emphasisStress given to something
- prominenceNotable status or visibility
- iambTwo-syllable metrical foot
trochee · prosody · intonation · rhythm · cadence · pattern · primary · secondary · unstressed · pitch