What is rebracketing in linguistics? (20)(Bantu Languages (e.g., Zulu, Xhosa)

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 Bantu Languages (e.g., Zulu, Xhosa):

Umkhonto:

Original form: “U-mkhonto” (spear)

Rebracketed form: Became “Umkhonto,” where the noun prefix and stem are often treated as a single unit.

Amadoda:

Original form: “Ama-doda” (men)

Rebracketed form: Rebracketed into “amadoda,” treated as a single word in everyday speech.

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