Moraic

Moraic is an adjective used in phonology to describe phenomena that are analyzed in terms of morae, the units of syllable weight or timing. The concept of a mora provides an alternative to syllable-based timing for explaining rhythm, timing, and stress patterns in many languages.

In moraic theory, the weight of a syllable is counted in morae. A light syllable typically has one mora, while a heavy syllable has two. There are two common sources of extra morae: a long vowel (which contributes an additional mora) and a syllable with a coda consonant (in languages where codas are considered mora-bearing). The precise distribution can vary by language, so not all languages treat long vowels and codas identically in mora counts.

Moraic analysis is used to account for a range of phonological phenomena, including stress placement, syllable structure, and timing. Some languages are described as mora-timed, meaning the rhythm is closely tied to the sequence of morae rather than syllables. Others are described as syllable-timed or are analyzed with mixed or language-specific timing patterns; the classification remains a topic of academic discussion.

Examples commonly cited in moraic literature include Japanese, which is often described as mora-timed and where each syllable typically corresponds to one mora, though long vowels and certain consonants can contribute additional morae. In such analyses, a word like Nihon may be analyzed as having three morae: ni, ho, n.

The term mora and the notion of moraic structure have been central in generative phonology since the mid-20th century, influencing how linguists model timing, rhythm, and stress across languages.