suprasegmental (adj./n.)

A term used in PHONETICS and PHONOLOGY to refer to a vocal effect which extends over more than one sound SEGMENT in an UTTERANCE, such as a PITCH, STRESS or JUNCTURE pattern. In its contrast with ‘segmental’, it is seen as one of two main classes into which phonological UNITS can be divided. In American STRUCTURALIST theories, suprasegmentals were analyzed as PHONEMES and sequences of such features as MORPHEMES, but not all phonologists analyze these features in EMIC terms. Alternative terms are PLURISEGMENTAL, non-segmental and SUPERFIX.