Knašta/Third I

The term Third I (Drý-ins Í /dri ɪns i/ in Knašta) is used to describe the realization of the vowel í after ts and at the end of some words. It is called the Third I because the other two phonemes involving an "I-like" vowel (discounting dipthongs) are i /ɪ/ and í /i/.

Location of Third I in Words

The Third I is always written as í, and never as ý, which normally represent the same phoneme (tsí is pronounced /t͡si₃/, while tsý is pronounced /t͡si/). Any í occurring after ts is automatically pronounced as the Third I. An í occurring at the end of the word is also typically pronounced as the Third I.

Examples

Third I's are bolded.

Tsíentsí /t͡si₃ɛnt͡si₃/ (science)
Kapítůlatsíàtsjon /kapitulat͡si₃atsjon/ (surrender)
Agaňí /agaɲi₃/ (again)
Vošní /vɑʃni₃/ (you, singular)
Vrémenskí /vremɛnski₃/ (real)

Realizations of the Third I

The standard pronunciation of the Third I is [e̞], however, it can also be realized as [ɛi̯], [ei̯], and at the end of words [aɪ̯]. These diphthongs are typically seen as having arisen from [e̞].

If the Third I does not occur at the end of the word, it may also be realized as a schwa ([ə]).

Example: Vremenskí'-las /vremɛnskəlas/ (really)