Grade Alternation in Võro South Estonian
Grade Alternation in Võro South Estonian

Summary/Abstract: The current overview of the system of complicated stem alternation and non-initial syllable alternation in Võro differs from the traditional Finnic grade alternation system where only two grades are considered. In Võro, the traditional system has been extended by another two grades, making it now possible to include all gemination cases typical of Võro which have been ­considered separately so far. In certain quality-alternational words, the ­phenom­enon of the simultaneous occurrence of the traditional quality alternation and the quantity alternation ­(including all three quantities) can be considered the most important characteristic of Võro grade alternation. Here, the term lengthening alternation is used for the ­alternation of three grades, and its combination with quality alternation is understood as full alternation, which includes all types of grade alternation. Unlike the ­Estonian grade alternation system, Võro grade alternation in non-initial syllables offers plenty of research material. In the Võro literary language, which is based mostly on the eastern and southern varieties of Võro, series of regular grade alternation in non-initial ­syllables can be distinguished.

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