German Pronunciation and Phonology

Jethro Bithell

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9780429889219
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Langues et linguistique
• Subtopic: Linguistique

First published in 1952. This book does not confine itself to German phonetics; it aims rather at showing by what processes and tricks of sound words have been shaped in the course of years; it is therefore a book on phonology as well. It should have a wide appeal to students of German. Moreover, since the treatment of laws and sound processes is comparative, it will be useful to students of other languages, particularly of the Scandinavian group and Dutch.

CHAPTER V

ORTHOGRAPHY AND ORTHOEPY

Orthography (Orthographie, Rechtschreibung) is the officially correct representation of sounds by symbols (pp. 2, 3ff.); that is, correct (but not necessarily phonetic) spelling. German orthography was revised and fixed in its present form in 1934 and was set down in the official manuals of spelling (Regelbücher) of the separate States, the most important of these being Das Preussische Regelbuch. A compendium of German, Austrian and Swiss official orthography is Der grosse Duden (last edition 1948); this is the accepted book of reference.

Orthoepy (Orthoepie, richtige Aussprache) is the correct (that is, phonetic) pronunciation of symbols.

ORTHOGRAPHY

Symbols are either: (1) single—that is, one symbol for one sound; or (2) digraphs—that is, two symbols for one sound; or (3) trigraphs—that is, three symbols for one sound or for two sounds. Digraphs: ie = [i

]; ch = [k, ç or x]; dt = [t]; ng = [ŋ]; ph = [f]; ß, ss or sz = [s]; th = [t]. Trigraphs: eau = [o

] (as in Niveau [ni

^|vo

]); ckk = [kk] (as in Rückkehr); sch; tzz = the affricate [ts] doubled, as in Schutzzoll.

One symbol may represent two or more different sounds; thus s represents [z] in böse but [s] in erbost, and [ʃ] in Spiel, Stein; v in Nerv = [f] but in nervös = [v]; n in Dank = [ŋ] but [n] in nein.

On the other hand two sounds may be represented by one symbol: q = [kv]; x = [ks]; z = [ts]; j =[dӡ], as in Jockei [|dӡͻke

]. Or ^|dӡͻkai]. One symbol for two sounds is said to be a sigil (das Sigel or die Sigle).

A symbol, again, may not in itself represent any sound, but may simply be a device to mark...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• PREFACE
• ABBREVIATIONS
• PHONETIC ALPHABET
• I. SOUNDS, SYMBOLS AND ALPHABETS
• II. THE PRODUCTION AND CLASSIFICATION OF SOUNDS
• III. HISTORICAL PHONETICS
• IV. SYLLABICATION, ACCENT, PITCH AND RHYTHM
• V. ORTHOGRAPHY AND ORTHOEPY
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• SUBJECT INDEX
• INDEX OF WORDS AND NAMES