What is rebracketing in linguistics? (17)(Swahili)

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 Swahili:

Alfajiri:

Original form: “al-fajir” (Arabic, meaning “dawn”)

Rebracketed form: Became “alfajiri,” where “al” is treated as part of the noun.

Mchungwa:

Original form: “m-” (prefix for trees) + “chungwa” (orange tree)

Rebracketed form: Became “mchungwa,” merging into a single word referring to the orange tree.

These examples show how rebracketing is a widespread linguistic process that occurs in languages worldwide, influencing both word formation and language evolution.