Italian language: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>Robert Thorpe
No edit summary
imported>Robert Thorpe
mNo edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
==Sounds==
==Sounds==
===Vowels===
===Vowels===
Triphthongs always contain at least one [[semivowel]]. In ''miei'' the first ''i'' is a semivocalic 'y' sound, {{IPA|[j]}}; in ''tuoi'', the ''u'' functions as a {{IPA|[w]}}; and the final ''i'' of such words can become semivocalic before a following vowel in the next word.  The ''i'' is a semivowel also in the first person plural of some verbs: ''continuiamo, dissanguiamo''. ''Noia'' and ''febbraio'' have the sequence vowel-semivowel-vowel . And in the four-vowel sequence of ''aiuola'' ('flowerbed') the "u" is a semivowel, {{IPA|[w]}}.
Triphthongs always contain at least one [[semivowel]]. In ''miei'' the first ''i'' is a semivocalic 'y' sound, {{IPA|[j]}}; in ''tuoi'', the ''u'' functions as a {{IPA|[w]}}; and the final ''i'' of such words can become semivocalic before a following vowel in the next word.  The ''i'' is a semivowel also in the first person plural of some verbs: ''continuiamo, dissanguiamo''. ''Noia'' and ''febbraio'' have the sequence vowel-semivowel-vowel. And in the four-vowel sequence of ''aiuola'' ('flowerbed') the "u" is a semivowel, {{IPA|[w]}}.

Revision as of 12:53, 14 October 2007

Sounds

Vowels

Triphthongs always contain at least one semivowel. In miei the first i is a semivocalic 'y' sound, [j]; in tuoi, the u functions as a [w]; and the final i of such words can become semivocalic before a following vowel in the next word. The i is a semivowel also in the first person plural of some verbs: continuiamo, dissanguiamo. Noia and febbraio have the sequence vowel-semivowel-vowel. And in the four-vowel sequence of aiuola ('flowerbed') the "u" is a semivowel, [w].