circumfixesto

Circumfixesto is a coined term used in some linguistic and constructed-language discussions to describe a hypothetical pattern of affixation that blends features of circumfixes with notable morphophonological interaction with the stem. It is not an established term in mainstream linguistics, and definitions vary among authors. In this usage, circumfixesto refers to a set of bound morphemes that encircle a root or stem but whose exact behavior can differ across analyses, especially in how they relate to stem alternations and phonology.

In many discussions, circumfixesto implies two bound morphemes that attach on either side of a stem, similar to a circumfix. However, unlike a rigid, invariant circumfix, the surrounding material in circumfixesto can interact with the stem in ways that trigger or condition morphophonemic changes. This interaction may involve vowel harmony, vowel alternations, or consonant changes within the root, yielding predictable but nontrivial stem forms.

Typology and usage are largely theoretical and speculative, often confined to discussions of hypothetical languages or constructed languages (conlangs). Proposed functions for circumfixesto include encoding grammatical categories such as tense, aspect, mood, or number, with the exact interpretation dependent on the language system being modeled. Because the concept is not widely attested in descriptive grammars, most examples are illustrative rather than demonstrably attested across natural languages.

Illustrative examples are typically constructed for demonstration. In a fictional language, a root meaning “book” might appear as ta-lib-o under a circumfixesto pattern, where the prefix ta- and suffix -o mark a plural past form, and the root may undergo minor vowels changes to harmonize with the surrounding morphemes. Such examples are pedagogical and not evidence of a universal phenomenon.

See also: circumfix, infix, affix, morphology, conlang.