receipt or reception?

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 2:54 am

On nominalisation of English verbs:
The noun 'explAInation' (capitalisation of internal letters by me to highlight the problem) does not exist; the correct noun is
explanation.

Note the different lengths of the relevant syllables ("exPLAIN" versus "exPLAation").

Lorikeet · Post by **Lorikeet** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 3:14 am

Roger wrote:
Note the different lengths of the relevant syllables ("exPLAIN" versus "exPLAation").

Actually, there is a stress change that affects the vowel, so that "exPLAIN" has the stress on the second syllable, and "explaNAtion" has the stress on the third syllable, thereby making the second syllable an unstressed schwa (or whatever you prefer to call that sound).

My Dingaling · Post by **My Dingaling** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 7:23 am

Truly, my spelling was appallingly incorrect, and it is 'explanation'.

The adding of the -tion often involves a spelling manoeuvre that drops letters, and in some cases may add an 'a'

Civil -> Civilize/Civilise -> Civilization/Civilisation