Bźatga: Difference between revisions

Whenever the combinations ''**ji'' and ''*vu'' would occur as a result of inflexion or derivation, the consonant is lost and the remaining ''i'' or ''u'' forms a diphthong with the preceding vowel. The same occurs to the combination ''*ovi'', which becomes ''oî''. The second element of a diphthong formed in this way is marked by a caret, not to show a difference in pronunciation from the unmarked form, but to show the absence of the consonant. This process can clearly be seen in the declension of the adjective ''dova'' "black": ''dova'' (NAsg), ''doû'' (Osg, < *''dovu''), ''doî'' (Pl, < *''dovi''). Note also the change of ''*iji'' > ''î'' and ''*ivu, *iju'' > ''jû'' (e.g. ''bźija'' "power, status", Osg. ''bźû'', pl. ''bźî'').

The letter ''l'' may only stand in pre-vocalic position, whether word initially or medially. When the sound comes to stand before a consonant it alternates to ''ŭ'', e.g. ''velą'' "seeing" but ''veŭdoja'' "visible".