4.5.
INTERCHANGE OF SOUNDS
The interchange of sounds is a term denoting change in the phonematic
structure of the morpheme in the process of word changing and word-building. The
interchange of sounds takes place according to definite strict standards for each
phoneme in each given language. Thus, for example, the English phoneme [d] may
alternate with the phoneme [t] (send – sent, build – built, etc.). In Ukrainian the
phoneme [K] may alternate only with the phonemes [Ч] and [Ц] (пекла – печеш;
рука – руці).
The interchange of sounds includes vowel gradation and the interchange of
consonants.
Examples of vowel gradation:
drink [drINk] – drank [drxNk] – drunk [drANk];
strong [strPN] – strength [streNT];
tooth [tu:T] – teeth [ti:T], etc.
In Ukrainian the vowel gradation [I] – [O] is observed in the words:
кінь [K'ІH'] – коня [КОН'Á];
дім [Д'ІМ] – дому [ДÓМУ];
сіль [С'ІЛ'] – солі [СÓЛ'І].
Examples of interchange of consonants:
house, n [haVs] – house, v [haVz];
leaf [li:f] – leaves [li:vz]; etc.
In Ukrainian, cases of interchange of consonants [К] – [Ч] can be found in the
words, e.g.
чоловік [ЧОЛОВ'ÍК] – чоловіче [ЧОЛОВ'ÍЧЕ];
око [ÓКО] – очi [ÓЧ'І].
Interchange of sounds may be historical or living.
By the historical interchange of sounds we mean a case when the change is not
determined by the position of the sound in the word, but appeared as a result of the
laws which acted in the language at some definite periods of its development. It is
closely connected with historical assimilation. Historical interchange of sounds is
also explained by the phonetical structure of the language but has grammatical
significance.
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Cases of historical interchange of sounds in English can be found among the
three forms of irregular verbs, the degrees of comparison of adjectives, different parts
of speech originated from one root, the archaic forms of the plural of nouns and other
grammatical phenomena. For example:
The three forms of the irregular verbs:
do [dH] – did [dId] – done [dAn] (vowel gradation [u:] – [I] – [A] takes
place);
fly [flaI] – flew [flu:] – flown [flqVn] (vowel gradation [aI] – [u:] – [qV]
takes place).
The degrees of comparison of adjectives:
little [lItl] – less [les] – least [li:st] ([I] interchanges with [e], [i:]);
much [mAtS] – more [mL] – most [mqVst] ([A] interchanges with [L],
[qV]).
The plural of nouns:
man [mxn] – men [men] (vowel gradation [x] – [e] takes place);
goose [gu:s] – geese [gi:s] (vowel gradation [u:] – [i:] takes place).
The interchange of sounds is also observed when different parts of speech are
originated from one root:
convert [kqn'vE:t] – conversion [kqn'vE:Sn];
intend [In'tend] – intention [In'tenSn] – intent [In'tent].
By the living interchange of sounds we mean a case when the change is
determined by the position of the sound in the word. It is closely connected with
living assimilation. The living interchange of sounds is mainly explained by the
phonetical structure of the given language.
Consequently, in the words six [sIks] – sixth [sIksT] forelingual alveolar [s]
interchanges with forelingual dental [s]. In the words accent, n ['xksqnt] – accent, v
[qk'sent] we can observe the interchange between [x] – [q] and [e] – [q]. In the word
central ['sentrql, 'sentrl] the vowel [q] may interchange with a zero sound in quick
colloquial speech.
In Ukrainian, the sound [B] may interchange with the sound [У], e.g. вчити –
учити. In the Ukrainian language grammatical interchange of sounds takes place
within different cases of nouns, different parts of speech originated from a common
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root, in different forms of the verbs, e.g.
радість [РÁД'ІСТЬ] – радості [РÁДОСТ'І];
жінка [Ж'ÍНКА] – жінчин [Ж'ÍНЧИН];
робота [РОБÓТА] – робітник [РОБ'ІТНИК];
гріб [ГР'ÍБ] – гребля [ГРÉБЛ'А];
женити [ЖЕНИТИ] – жонатий [ЖОНÁТИЙ];
летіти [ЛЕТ'ÍТИ] – літати [ЛІТÁТИ].
The interchange of sounds may be complete and zero. The interchange of
sounds is called complete when different phonemes are interchanged, e.g.
The English:
man [mxn] – men [men];
send [send] – sent [sent].
The Ukrainian:
вiз [B'ІЗ] – воза [ВÓЗА];
сніг [СН'ІГ] – сніжок [СН'ІЖÓК].
The complete interchange of sounds is most typical of both English and
Ukrainian.
The interchange of sounds is called zero when a sound alternates with a zero
sound, e.g.
The English:
towards [tq'wLdz] – [tLdz];
perhaps [pq'hxps] – [prxps].
The Ukrainian:
терти [ТÉРТИ] – тру [ТРУ];
завмерти [ЗАВМÉРТИ] – завмру [ЗАВМРУ].
The complete interchange of sounds is most typical of both English and
Ukrainian.
The zero interchange of sounds is not typical of the English and Ukrainian
languages.
The tabular analysis of interchange of sounds in English is presented in table
4.3 on page 153.
Tab1e 4.3.
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Models of analysis of cases of sound interchange in English
Examples
1. little - less - least
[lItl - les - li:st]
strong - strength
2. [strON - streNT]
Result of Grammatical
Full,
Vowel/
Grammatical
sound
function of
partial or
consonant
or phonetical
interchange
the words
zero
degrees of
[I] - [e] - [J] comparison of
adjectives
[O] - [e]
intend - intent 3. intention [In'tend - [d] - [t] - [S]
In'tent - I'ntenSn]
4. goose - geese
[u:] - [i:]
[gH s - gi:s]
5. do - did - done
[du: - dId - dAn]
can [kxn - kqn]
6.
can [kqn - kn]
complete grammatical
different parts
of speech
»
»
»
»
consonant
»
»
vowel
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
»
zero
»
plural of
nouns
different
forms of
[u:] - [I] - [A]
irregular
verbs
strong and
[x] - [q]
weak forms
[q] - zero
vowel
»
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