Which of the morphemes listed below can undergo A-Weakening? A. ten B. cap C. spec D. sed

Identifying A-Weakening in Morphemes

A-Weakening refers to the process in linguistics where certain morphemes experience weakening changes, often in their vowel sounds, when they appear in unstressed positions.

1. Understanding the Morphemes:

   • A. ten: A single syllable, minimal potential for weakening due to stress.
   • B. cap: Also a single syllable, similar analysis as 'ten'.
   • C. spec: A single syllable, with a consonant cluster but can potentially undergo weakening.
   • D. sed: This morpheme can experience vowel reduction in unstressed environments.

2. Analysis of A-Weakening:

   • A-Weakening typically affects morphemes that can appear in unstressed positions.

3. Conclusion:

   • In this context, D. sed is the morpheme that can undergo A-Weakening due to its capacity to be pronounced in unstressed forms, leading to a less pronounced vowel quality.

Therefore, the correct answer is D. sed.