What is rebracketing in linguistics? (24)(Irish)

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 Irish:

Na hOileain:

Original form: “Na” (the) + “Oileain” (islands)

Rebracketed form: Reanalyzed as “Na hOileain,” where the initial “h” is treated as part of the noun in some dialects.

Oraid:

Original form: “Oraid” (speech) + “o” (from)

Rebracketed form: Rebracketed in some dialects into “oraid,” incorporating both elements.

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