Palatalization in Northern Norwegian Dialects

Palatalization is a feature of many northern Norwegian dialects. It occurs with alveolars, especially the alveolar lateral /l/ and alveolar nasal /n/, but also with the plosives /t/ and /d/. In certain dialects palatalization affects the alveolar consonant and results in a secondary articulation, and in others, it attaches to the stressed vowel and results in a diphthong. Also possible is the realization of both pronunciations simultaneously, the diphthong and the palatalized consonant.

The following words are palatalized in many dialects of northern Norway:

ball (ball)
fjell (mountain)
han (he)
kald (cold)
kan (can)
kvell (evening)
munn (mouth)
redd (afraid)
slutt (end)
vann (water)

Palatalization can also occur in other positions of the word:

alle (everyone)
alt (everything)
liv (life)
hadde (had)
vannet (the water)

One of the features of many dialects of northern Norway is palatalization. It is especially common with the alveolar lateral and nasal. The dialects have different types of palatalization. In some the vowel combines with a palatal glide to create a diphthong, in others the consonant becomes palatal, and in some both types occur.