【芬兰语语法】§15.2 THE RULES OF CONSONANT GRADATION

 All the alternations (1)–(16) are determined by the same set of conditions.

Stops change in the stem of words with two or more syllables when certain

endings are added. The change is determined partly by the vowels between

the stop and the ending (alternation occurs only if the vowels are short; there

is no alternation if this position is taken by a long vowel or a consonant), and

partly by the following ending (alternation is caused only by certain types of

case and personal ending). The following rule A applies to all words,

nominals as well as verbs.

Rule A

In polysyllabic stems long and short p, t, k are subject to consonant

gradation if they are followed by an ending which:

A(a) consists of only one consonant or

A(b) begins with two consonants,

and also on condition that

A(c) between p, t, k and the ending there is only a short vowel or

a diphthong (not consonants or a syllable boundary)

A(d) the ending causing consonant gradation is usually the case

ending in nominals and the personal ending in verbs

Cont…

30 Finnish: An Essential Grammar

A(e) between this ending and the consonants p, t, k there can be an -

i- ending (plural or past tense)

A(f) alternation never occurs before a long vowel

A(g) there is no alternation in monosyllabic stems

In addition to the basic rule A there is a second rule B, which governs

consonant gradation in verbs only.

Rule B

In verbs, p, t, k, are always subject to consonant gradation before a short

vowel if they occur

B(a) before the passive ending (e.g. -tta- ~ -ttä-, -ta- ~ -tä-)

B(b) in the second person singular imperative

B(c) in the present indicative negative

Cases B(b) and B(c) are in fact equivalent, since these verb forms are always

the same, e.g. kerro! ‘tell!’ ~ en kerro ‘I do not tell’; anna! ‘give’ ~ en anna

‘I do not give’.

The examples below illustrate the way in which the basic rule A is

applied to the noun katto ‘roof’, wher there is alternation between tt

and t. It is the structure of the following case ending that primarily

determines whether the alternation occurs or not; the reason is given on

the right.

katto roof NO no ending

kato/n of the roof YES ending consists of one consonant

kato/lla on the roof YES ending begins with two consonants

katto/na as a roof NO ending does not consist of one

consonant or begin with two

kato/lta from the roof YES ending begins with two consonants

katto/on into the roof NO no alternation before a long vowel

kato/lle onto the roof YES ending begins with two consonants

kato/t roofs YES ending consists of one consonant

kato/i/lla on the roofs YES ending begins with two consonants;

in between there can be an ending

consisting of -i-

katto/i/na as roofs NO see katto/na

kato/ksi to (become) YES ending begins with two consonants

a roof

Two important sound alternations 31

katto/mme our roof NO no alternation before a possessive

suffix

katto/kin a roof, too NO ending does not consist of one

consonant or begin with two

kato/i/lle onto the roofs YES ending begins with two consonants;

in between there can be an ending

consisting of -i-

katto/i/hin into the roofs NO ending does not consist of one

consonant or begin with two

kato/i/lta from the roofs YES ending begins with two consonants;

in between there can be an ending

consisting of -i-

katto/nne your roof NO no alternation before a possessive

suffix

katto/a roof (partitive) NO ending does not consist of one

consonant or begin with two

katto/j/en of the roofs NO same as above; j=the plural i

The two following sections contain further examples of the application of

rules A and B, in both nominals and verbs.