Russian
Final-obstruent devoicing can lead to the neutralization of phonemic contrasts in certain environments. For example, Russian бес ('demon', phonemically /bʲes/) and без ('without', phonemically /bʲez/) are pronounced identically in isolation as .
The presence of this process in Russian is also the source of the seemingly variant transliterations of Russian names into "-off" (Russian: -ов), especially by the French.
Read more about this topic: Final-obstruent Devoicing
Famous quotes containing the word russian:
“To be born in a new country one has to die in the motherland.”
—Irina Mogilevskaya, Russian student. Immigrating to the U.S., student paper in an English as a Second Language class, Hunter College, 1995.
“A medium Vodka dry Martiniwith a slice of lemon peel. Shaken and not stirred, please. I would prefer Russian or Polish vodka.”
—Ian Fleming (19081964)
“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 (18991977)