Russian
In Russian, consonant mutation and alternations are a very common phenomenon during word formation, conjugation and in comparative adjectives.
The most common classes of mutations involve
- velar/postalveolar alternation /k/→/tɕ/ (к→ч), /ɡ/→/ʐ/ (г→ж), /x/→/ʂ/ (х→ш): тихий/тише (comparative adjective: quiet→quieter)
- Gain/loss of palatalization: царь/царский (adjective formation: tsar (n.)/ tsar (adj.))
Other common mutations are:
- /t/→/tɕ/ (т→ч) / /d/→/ʐ/ (д→ж)
- /z/→/ʐ/ (з→ж)/ /s/→/ʂ/ (с→ш) / /ts/→/tɕ/ (ц→ч)
- /sk/→/ɕː/ (ск→щ): плеск → плещет "splash" / "(he) splashes"
Read more about this topic: Consonant Mutation
Famous quotes containing the word russian:
“I won the battle the wrong way when our worthy Russian generals were losing it the right way.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“Linnæus, setting out for Lapland, surveys his “comb” and “spare shirt,” “leathern breeches” and “gauze cap to keep off gnats,” with as much complacency as Bonaparte a park of artillery for the Russian campaign. The quiet bravery of the man is admirable.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Whatever qualities [Tsar Nicholas I] may have shown in his own kingly profession, it must be admitted that in his dealings with the Russian Muse he was at the worst a vicious bully, at the best a clown.”
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)