Word-Final Schwa Deletion in Danish

A study from 2012 showed that word-final schwa in Danish is more likely to be deleted in verbs than in adjectives. The schwa is very common in Danish and is often deleted. However, the schwa is also likely to undergo a process called schwa assimilation.

The schwa is often deleted in the first posttonic syllable. Examples include husene (the houses), rimelig (reasonable), menneske (human), tjeneste (service), klosteret (the cloister). Deletion can also occur in pretonic syllables such as litteratur (literature), which is stressed on the final syllable.

In words such as  pige (girl), schwa deletion is possible, but schwa assimilation is common. The result is two adjacent syllabic nuclei. With schwa assimilation, pige is pronounced [pi:i].

Schwa deletion is common in Danish. Also common is schwa assimilation. Schwa deletion often occurs word-finally as well as in the first posttonic syllable and to a lesser extent in pretonic.