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Alternation vs Modification - What's the difference?

alternation | modification |

In linguistics terms the difference between alternation and modification

is that alternation is ablaut while modification is the change undergone by a word when used in a construction (for instance am => 'm in I'm.

As nouns the difference between alternation and modification

is that alternation is the reciprocal succession of (normally two) things in time or place; the act of following and being followed by turns; alternate succession, performance, or occurrence; as, the alternation of day and night, cold and heat, summer and winter, hope and fear while modification is the act or result of modifying or the condition of being modified.

alternation

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The reciprocal succession of (normally two) things in time or place; the act of following and being followed by turns; alternate succession, performance, or occurrence; as, the alternation of day and night, cold and heat, summer and winter, hope and fear.
  • The response of the congregation speaking alternately with the minister.
  • (Mason)
  • (linguistics) Ablaut.
  • (logic) The "inclusive or " truth function.
  • (mathematics) A sequence that alternates between positive and negative values. (Sometimes wrongly used to mean a permutation.)
  • (computing) A construct in a regular expression that can match any of several specified subexpressions.
  • modification

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • the act or result of modifying or the condition of being modified
  • an alteration or adjustment to something
  • * Jim's modification to the radio's tuning resulted in clearer sound.
  • a change to an organism as a result of its environment that is not transmissable to offspring
  • * Due to his sunbathing, Jim's body experienced modifications : he got a tan.
  • (linguistics) a change to a word when it is borrowed by another language
  • * The Chinese word "kòu tóu" had a modification made to become the English "kowtow" .
  • (linguistics) the change undergone by a word when used in a construction (for instance am'' => '' 'm'' in ''I'm )