Consonant whose articulation results of the total occlusion (closure) of the air passage, followed by sudden opening, as [p], [b], [t], [d], [k] and [g], for example.
Plosive
Prefix
See Affix.
Primary symmetry
See Symmetry.
Prosodic
See Prosody.
Prosody
Position of the stressed syllable of a word (ultimate, penultimate, antepenultimate).
Proto-Germanic
Language spoken by the ancient Germani. The same as Common Germanic.
Proto-Romanic
Denomination that more recently has been given to Vulgar Latin.
Resonant
Consonant that, in certain languages, can act as a vowel (for example, n in didn’t). In general, resonants are l, m, n and r.
Reverse symmetry
See Symmetry.
Rhizotonic
Word whose stress is in the stem.
Romance languages
Languages descended from Vulgar Latin or Proto-Romance. Amongst the main ones are Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, French, Italian and Romanian.
Romances
Medieval dialects resulting of the fragmentation of Vulgar Latin, some of which transformed into the current Romance languages.