Singularly Imperfect Tautonyms

Authors

Susan Thorpe

Abstract

Singularly Imperfect Tautonyms (SITS for short) are what I call words like NIGHTLIGHT in which a single letter in the second half of the word differs from the letters in the corresponding position in the first half of the word. Thus a single letter prevents NIGHTLIGHT from being a tautonym (NIGHTNIGHT). The SIT MENDMENT is prevented by a single letter from being a tautonymic sequence, rather than a tautonym, MENDMEND not being a word. For the purpose of this article, I do not distinguish between these two types of SITS. As a genre, SITS are only to be found amongst words with an even number of letters. Word sources can be found at the end.

Recommended Citation

Thorpe, Susan (2003) "Singularly Imperfect Tautonyms," Word Ways: Vol. 36 : Iss. 3 , Article 3.
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/wordways/vol36/iss3/3