Vowel breaking in Russian

[Goldberg, Stuart H]

Perhaps in terms of etymology (what other word(s) in Russian, by the way, show an analogous effect?), but "не-а" is firmly lexicalized (like "да нет" and "да уж"), it differs stylistically and in emphasis from "нет". In this semantic field, "aга" and "ого" seem more interesting to me phonetically, as they retain an /h/ not otherwise present in the idiolect of speakers of "standard" Russian.

Stuart Goldberg

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jules Levin" <ameliede at EARTHLINK.NET>
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2013 9:51:51 PM
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Vowel breaking in Russian

If you start from the phonological level, and assume 5 vowels (with 
whatever 'yes, buts' you want to throw in), and consonants that are 
either palatalized OR labialized/velarized, then all the 
diphthongal/diphthongoidal/diphthongish phenomena can be understood as 
transitions.  When under emphasis a vowel is prolongued for dramatic 
effect, those transitions become more audible, even to naive listeners.  
They also clearly show up on sound spectrographs.
The n'ea is probably the vowel /e/ heading toward a velarized /t/ that 
is then elided.
Jules Levin
Los Angeles

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