Hungarian
- Language Family
- Uralic
- Subgroup
- Ugric
- Area
- —
Summary
Metathesis involves alternations in three stems; they end in Ch before a vowel and in hVC word-finally and before a consonant (where C is a liquid).
Type(s) of metathesis
| Type | Status | Optionality | Position | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. CC | Synchronic | Obligatory | Adjacent | Root-final |
Case types and qualities
-
- CC
-
- C1:
- Glottal fricative
- C2:
- Rhotic
- C2:
- Palatal glide
Examples
Before a vowel ('ly' = [j]):
terh-ek > 'load-PL'
pelyh-ek > 'fluff-PL'
kelyh-ek > 'chalice-PL'
Word-finally: It is assumed that the stem-final vowel in these next two sets of forms is epenthetic. See Related processes.
teher > 'load'
pehely > 'fluff'
kehely > 'chalice'
Before a consonant:
teher-nek > 'load-DAT'
pehely-nek > 'fluff-DAT'
kehely-nek > 'chalice-DAT'
terh-ek > 'load-PL'
pelyh-ek > 'fluff-PL'
kelyh-ek > 'chalice-PL'
Word-finally: It is assumed that the stem-final vowel in these next two sets of forms is epenthetic. See Related processes.
teher > 'load'
pehely > 'fluff'
kehely > 'chalice'
Before a consonant:
teher-nek > 'load-DAT'
pehely-nek > 'fluff-DAT'
kehely-nek > 'chalice-DAT'
Conditions
Metathesis only occurs when the sounds involved are /h/ and a liquid.
Motivations
No motivations could be found
Symbols
Comments
Bibliography
- Kenesei, Istva!n, Vago Robert M. & Anna Fenyvesi. 1998. Hungarian. Routledge: London and New York.
- Vago, Robert M. 1980. The Sound Pattern of Hungarian. Georgetown University Press: Washington, D. C.