What is rebracketing in linguistics? (11)(Hebrew)

What is rebracketing in linguistics? (11)(Hebrew)

Here are some examples that show how rebracketing can influence not just the forms of words but their meanings and even how new words are created in a language.

In Hebrew:

Ha’aretz:

Original form: “Ha” (the) + “aretz” (land)

Rebracketed form: Reanalyzed as “Haaretz,” now a popular newspaper name in Israel.

Mezuzah:

Original form: “m’zuzah” (doorpost)

Rebracketed form: Became “mezuzah” as a single unit, referring to the religious item placed on doorposts.

Rebracketing is a widespread linguistic phenomenon that can significantly influence the evolution of languages across different cultures.

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