Portuguese Lateral Approximant

The Portuguese lateral approximant has two allophones. One is the alveolar lateral and the other is velarized. They are also known as the light l and dark l. In Brazilian Portuguese, however, the velarized lateral is only used in the southernmost part of Brazil. In other parts, the lateral is vocalized.

In the word lago (lake), the lateral is not velarized. However, in the word sal (salt), the lateral is velarized in Portugal and in the southernmost part of Brazil. In the rest of Brazil, the syllable-final l is vocalized. In intervocalic position, the lateral is usually pronounced without velarization in Brazil, but with a bit of velarization in Portugal. 

Portuguese has two allophones for the lateral approximant. One is used for syllable-initial position and the other for syllable-final. In European Portuguese, the syllable-final lateral is velarized, but in Brazilian Portuguese, the lateral is vocalized by the majority of speakers.

Modification of Nouns with -tion and -sion

Many English nouns end with the suffix variants -tion and -sion. They are both variants of the suffix -ion. In many cases, the suffix -ion is added directly to the root. This is the case with forms such as confession and reaction. However, many nouns modify the root in combination with the suffix.

The following forms all have modified roots:

add-addition

appear-apparition

apply-application

combine-combination

comprehend-comprehension

describe-description

divide-division

organize-organization

reduce-reduction

solve-solution

The word appear is quite different from apparition. In fact, the word appearance also exists, but the word apparition is used for an unexpected, remarkable appearance. In words such as addition and combination, the epenthentic vowel changes the syllable structure from VC.C to V.CV.

Voiceless Vowels of European Portuguese

Voiceless vowels often become voiceless in European Portuguese. This happens with vowels that are unstressed and is very common at the end of words and in rapid speech. The vowels can also be completely deleted.

The words quatro (four), sete (seven) and escola (school) all have vowels that can be voiceless. In the word quatro, the final vowel can be voiceless or completely deleted. This is also the case with the final vowel of sete. In the word escola, the first vowel can be voiceless. When the vowels are voiceless, they are pronounced without vocal cord vibration.

In European Portuguese, voiceless vowels are very common. They also occur in varieties of Brazilian Portuguese, but they are a feature that is much more associated with European. The use of voiceless vowels is more common in the dialects of southern and central Portugal than in the northern ones.

Use of Diminutive in Mexican Spanish

The diminutive suffix -ito/ita can be added to many Spanish words. Examples include casita (little house),and hermanito (little brother). The words house and brother are casa and hermano. However, the use of the diminutive tends to be more extensive in Mexican Spanish than in many other Spanish dialects.

Close friends can be called amiguitos (little friends) and shade can be sombrita (little shade). Without the diminutive suffix, they are cerveza and sombra. The words cervecita (little beer) and cafecito (little coffee) can be used instead of cerveza and café. Though the diminutive is also used in Castilian Spanish, it is used less extensively.

The use of the diminutive in Mexican Spanish is not limited to nouns. It can also be used in other cases such as muchito (a lot), ahorita (now) and sabrosito (tasty). Without the diminutive suffix, the words are mucho, ahora and sabroso. 

One of the features of Mexican Spanish is the use of the diminutive suffix. It is used far more than in many other dialects. It is not restricted to nouns but can also be used with other grammatical categories such as adjectives and adverbs.

Alveolar Approximant of Scottish English

Most varieties of Scottish English are rhotic. This means that the r is pronounced in all positions. It is often realized as an alveolar approximant, but it can also be a flap or a trill. Unlike in other rhotic varieties of English, Scottish English lacks r-coloured vowels. This means that vowels followed by the alveolar approximant do not merge. They are both pronounced separately.

Many dialects of English have r-coloured vowels. They include Canadian English, American English and Irish English. In these dialects, the vowel sounds are modified by the alveolar approximant in the same syllable and thereby create a single, distinct sound. The quality of the approximant is present throughout the duration of the vowel.

In Scottish English, however, the consonant never merges. In traditional varieties, it is a flap or a trill, but now many speakers use an approximant. The result is that the number of segments is different. For example, in varieties of English with r-coloured vowels, the word bird has three segments. However, in Scottish English it has four.

The alveolar approximant is a common consonant of English. However, only rhotic dialects of English use it in all positions. In non-rhotic dialects, it is not produced in the syllable coda. Many rhotic varieties have r-coloured vowels. However, even though most varieties of Scottish English are rhotic, it is a dialect that does not have r-coloured vowels.

French Labialized Palatal Approximant

French has a sound that does not exist in English and many other languages. It is the labialized palatal approximant. The places of articulation are the lips and the palate.

Words with the labialized palatal approximant include huit (eight), minuit (midnight), pluie (rain), huile (oil) and cuisse (thigh). To produce the labial palatal approximant, two constrictions are needed. One is the tongue on the palate, and the other is rounding of the lips. The labialized palatal approximant is also known as the labiopalatal approximant.

The labialized palatal approximant is used in French. It is relatively rare among the lnaguages of the world. Other languages that have the labialized palatal approximant include Breton, Mandarin and Occitan.

Labiovelar Approximant in North and West Jutlandic

The labiovelar approximant is very common in the Danish dialects of North Jutlandic and West Jutlandic. In fact, it often replaces the voiced labiodental fricative of standard Danish. Here is a list of ten words with a labiodental approximant in North and West Justlandic:

håndwærk/håndværk (handicraft)

hwem/hvem (who)

wa/hvad (what)

wæj/vej (way)

wæn/ven (friend)

wærd/værdi (value)

wærsom/varsom (careful)

wæst/vest (west)

wår/hvor (where)

wåwn/vogn (wagon)

The dialects of North and West Jutland are known for their extensive use of /w/. It occurs in many words with /v/ in Standard Danish. The /w/ also occurs in Standard Danish, but only in the syllable coda. In North and West Jutlandic, however, it is also very common in the syllable onset.