Paronyms are spelled similarly or sound similar, but have different meanings.
Words are elements that have a certain functionality within the framework of an expression. The combination of different words (which can be distinguished by pauses and accents) forms sentences .
Paronym , for its part, is an adjective that is applied to those terms that maintain a link of similarity based on their pronunciation or their etymological origin, although their writing and meanings are different.
Characteristics of paronyms
Paronyms , therefore, are those that sound very similar or are spelled similarly , but mean different things . These are similar words that express something dissimilar.
Two paronymous words that constitute a clear example are deer and servant . A deer (with C ) is a herbivorous mammal that is characterized by having antlers. A serf (with S ), on the other hand, was a type of slave who, in the Middle Ages, had to work for a feudal lord. Let's see both terms used in sentences: “When we went camping, we saw several deer in the forest” , “A nobleman could have up to a hundred servants at his service” .
Another example of paronym words is found in assignment and session . In the first case, the term (cession, with C ) refers to giving up something in favor of a third party or to passing or sharing something. Session, with S , is a time period in which a certain activity takes place . Put in context, they can be used to express the following sentences: “The transfer of the land was decided by the municipal authorities after an intense debate,” “In yesterday's session, my psychoanalyst recommended that I not repress my emotions and express myself without fear of the consequences.”
"Deer" (a mammalian animal) and "servant" (a type of slave) are paronyms.
Frequent errors
It is important to keep in mind that confusing two paronymous words can lead to spelling errors or improper uses; However, paronymy can also be used as a literary device. Ludolinguistics, for example, is the use of language for recreational purposes, the creation of word games with the intention of confusing or surprising the interlocutor or the reader; Paronyms are ideal for these purposes.
Contrary to the case of homonymous words , which generally share their pronunciation exactly and simply differ in their meaning, paronymous words can have clear differences in their spelling; In fact, they can be divided into three groups: the paronymy of tilde ( robbery and stole ); the letter paronymy ( opening and opening ); the combination of both ( there and there ).
That said, it is evident that the accent of each region of Spanish-speaking countries plays an important role in ensuring that paronymy causes the expected or desired effect. For example, there are Spanish speakers who pronounce: x as an s ; the cc as a single c ; the combination mn as an n ; the words obsession and accept as ocsession and acectar , respectively. It is logical that these phonics phenomena affect, both positively and negatively, the effectiveness of paronyms.
More examples of paronyms
Below are several examples of paronym words: absorption and adsorption; spice and species; attitude and aptitude; foresee and provide; cast and omit; affect and effect; accessible and affordable; art and harté; eager and had; complement and compliance; cost and cost; fragrant and flagrant; infect and infest; session and section.
Note that in some cases the sound of each word in a pair can be clearly different, as long as they are pronounced by people whose accent meets certain conditions. Returning to what was stated in the previous paragraph, it is not unusual to hear the term aptitude pronounced attitude , which eliminates their spelling differences, as if they were homonymous words.