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 (including the end of the word before affixes are applied) 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)
Vrémenskí-las /vremɛnski₃las/ (really)

Realizations of the Third I

The pronunciation of the third I depends on its location within the word, and the preceding consonant or consonant cluster. It is often realized as [e] at the end of words when not preceded by ts. Often, the third I is silent in words that end in tsí. If tsí does not occur at the end of the word, the third I is often realized either [ɨ] or [ə] or the lengthening of the previous consonant (only with the plural suffix -sin), with very few exceptions.

Examples

Vrémenskí /vremɛnske/ (real)

Vrémenskí-las /vremɛnskəlas/ (really)

Tsíentsí /t͡se.ɛnt͡s/ (science)

Aveskatsí /avɛskat͡s/ (I have)

Kapítůlatsí /kapitulat͡s/ (to surrender)

Kapítůlatsíkatsí /kapitulat͡səkat͡s/ (I surrender)

Nívotsí /nivots/ (level)

Nívotsísin /nivotsːɪn/ (levels)