§one. Basic rules of Russian literary pronunciation

The Russian language as a whole is characterized by the opposition of hard and soft consonants (cf.: small and crumpled, Houses and Dyoma). In many European languages there is no such opposition. When borrowing, the word usually obeys the pronunciation norms of the Russian language. So, before "e" in Russian, a soft consonant usually sounds ( m ate, no no). Many foreign words begin to be pronounced in the same way: m etr, r ebus. The pronunciation of hard consonants is usually retained by all foreign surnames: Chopin [pe], Voltaire [te]. The pronunciation of a solid consonant before "e" is also typical for bookish, little-used words ( apartheid [te]. demarche [de]). The type of consonant before "e" also has a certain meaning. For example, the combination "de" is more often pronounced with a soft consonant. and the combination "te" - with solid. A certain role is played by the source of borrowing. For example, the final stressed syllable in words from French is usually pronounced with a hard consonant ( pastel [te], cure [re], corrugated [re]). But there are exceptions, such as the word overcoat pronounced with a soft "n". Here is a small group of words in which pronunciation errors are often observed.

The correct pronunciation is considered to be a solid consonant before "e" in the following words: artery, atelier, atheist, bijouterie, business, businessman, steak, brandy, brotherhood, Bundeswehr, sandwich, bra, water polo, riding breeches, gangster, corrugation, grotesque, disintegration, decadent, dequalification, decollete, detective, dumping, denunciation, determinism, de facto, de jure, deciphering, identical, impresario, inert, index, interval, integration, intensity, intervention, interview, cartel, square, cabaret, condensate, container, motorcade, computer, cure, laser, lottery, Madeira, Mademoiselle Manager

In words diet, project, caries the sound [j] is not pronounced, that is, they sound like [d ieta], [project], [kar yes].

The consonant before the "e" is pronounced softly: academy, certificate, benefit performance, beret, brunet, bookmaker, accounting, promissory note, gazelle, haberdashery, hegemon, debit, debate, debut, degenerate, devaluation, degradation, disinfection, demagogue, democrat, demi-season, dismantling, deposit, dispatch, despot, defect, hyphen, deficit, deformation, dividend, ikebana, investor, intellectual; congress, conditioner, coffee, cream, patent, presentation, progress, review, raglan, register, reserve, raid, flight, rail, x-ray, referee, term, overcoat, effect.

In general, the pronunciation of hard and soft consonants in loanwords is a very flexible norm. As a rule, when borrowing, the word is pronounced with a firm consonant for some time. As it is mastered by the language, it loses the “plaque” of a foreign, “foreign”, hard pronunciation is gradually replaced by the pronunciation of a soft consonant (in accordance with the spelling). Sometimes this process goes very quickly. For example, schoolchildren in urban schools, where the computer is no longer perceived as something exotic, usually pronounce the word a computer with a soft “t”, but such a pronunciation has not yet become a general literary norm.

At the same time, in some cases, the pronunciation of both hard and soft consonants is equally acceptable. For example, the pronunciation of "e" and "e" is allowed in the words: aggression, misinformation, decade, dean, creed, claim and some others.

Attention should also be paid to the social significance of the pronunciation of hard and soft consonants in borrowed words. If the pronunciation of a hard consonant is still the norm, then the pronunciation of a soft consonant can be perceived as a manifestation of a person’s low culture (cf. , can be perceived as a manifestation of philistinism, pseudo-intelligence. This is how, for example, pronunciation like shi [ne] l, k [re] m, ko [fe], bru [ne] t, aka [de] miya, [te] ma is perceived.

Pronunciation [e] and [o] under stress after soft consonants and hissing

In Russian, in a position between a soft and hard consonant, under stress, “o” is usually pronounced (graphically “e”): sister - sisters, wife - wives. However, in whole groups of words, such alternation is not observed. These are many borrowed words ( bluff, scam etc.), words that came to us from the Old Slavonic language. For example, nouns in -ie are usually of Old Slavonic origin, and words with -e are Russian, so the following parallels can be distinguished: being - being, living - living. There is no alternation in the position between two soft consonants, cf .: ice, but - sleet.

CHECK YOURSELF:

1. Read the following words carefully, paying attention to their correct pronunciation and stress:

a) White, faded, sequin, voyager, millstone, gutter, bile, kioskeur, maneuver, nonsense, sweep, loan, receiver, polygamy, bucket, bucket, priest, kneeling, imprinted, wool, perch, hopeless, worthless, importer, retoucher , marker, pianist, chronicler, stuntman, knowledgeable, starter, officer.

b) Obstetrician, guardianship, scam, being, life, plump, snapdragon. grenadier, carabinieri, successor, sharpness, settled way of life, bent, bigamist, polygamist, bluff, expired, pole, rod, hornet, spineless, fashion designer, dispensary, minuscule, croupier, porter, point.

2. Mark the words in which [e] is pronounced under stress after a soft consonant.

Genesis, fable, of the same name, catechumen, stunned, grenadier, difference in time, connected, laden, coarse-haired.

3. Divide the words below into two groups, depending on whether the consonant is pronounced hard or soft.

Ampere, anesthesia, antenna, beige, steak, brunette, sandwich, dean, demon, depression, chapel, caravel, file cabinet, cafe, cake, stranded, modern, museum, short story, Odessa, hotel, pastel, patent, pioneer, resonance, rail, sausage, superman, tavern, thematic, plywood, music library, brown hair, overcoat.

4. Highlight the words in which the consonant before E is pronounced firmly.

Antithesis, anapaest, grotesque, aesthetics, effect, genetics, tennis, pool, phoneme, benefit performance.

In a position before the sound [e], denoted by the letter e, both soft and hard consonants are pronounced in borrowed words. The lack of softness is more often characteristic of dental [d], [t], [h], [s], [n] and sound [p]. However, the consonant before e in words academy,cream,press, museum,tenor and many others. See below for lists of such words.

Words with strongly pronounced consonants before e

adept [de]

detective [dete]

adequate [de]

anesthesia [ne, te]

annexation [ne] [ add. not]

antiseptic [se]

atheism [te]

atheist [te]

take-take [be, be]

business [ne]

businessman [ne] [ add. not, me]

hetaera [te]

grotesque [te]

landing stage [de, der]

devaluation [de] [ add. de]

degradation [de]

degression [de]

dehumanization [de]

dezabile [de]

disavow [de]

disintegration [dezinte]

misinformation [deza] [ add. misinformation]

disorganization [de] [ add. de]

disorientation [de] [ add. de]

decahedron [de]

dequalification [de]

neckline [de, te]

low-cut [ add. de]

decompensation [de]

decor [de]

delicacy [te]

demarche [de]

demos [de]

dumping [de]

dendrologist [de]

denomination [de]

denunciation [de]

dermis [de]

desegregation [de]

detective [dete]

detector [dete]

determinism [dete]

de facto [de]

deflector [de]

deflation [de]

decibel [de]

decimeter [de]

de-escalation [de]

de jure [de, re]

indexing [de]

computer [te]

condensate [de]

capacitor [de]

consensus [se]

confidential [de] [ add. de]

corps de ballet [de]

cosecant [se]

crater [te] [ add. those]

creed [re] [ add. re]

crepe de chine [de] [ add. re]

laser [ze]

manager [ne] [ add. me, ne]

management [ne] [ add. me, ne]

minstrel [re] [ add. ne]

to model [de]

nonsense [se]

orchid [de]

pantheon [te]

panther [te] [ add. those]

parterre [te]

reverence [ie] [ add. ie]

pretentious [te]

providential [de]

producer [se]

protege [te]

prosthesis [te]

protection [te]

rendezvous [de]

requiem [re, uh]

reputation [me] [ add. re, me]

secant [se]

St. Bernard [se]

maxim [te] [ add. ce]

sepsis [se]

setter [se, te]

synthesis [te]

sonnet [ne] [ add. not]

stress [re]

teza (anti-) [te]

thesaurus [te]

thesis (anti-) [te]

timbre [te]

tempera [te]

trend [te, de]

tender [te, de]

tennis [te]

T-shirt [te]

thermos [te]

terms [te]

terracotta [te]

tercet [te]

third [te]

tete-a-tete [tatatet]

tetrahedron [te]

track [re] [ add. re]

phoneme [ne]

phonetics [ne]

maid of honor [re]

meatball [de]

cicherone [ne]

showman [me]

psychic [se]

Words with softly pronounced consonants before e

academy [not de]

takes [not bere]

degenerate

tasting [ de and de]

deduction [ add. de]

disinfection, disinfect

deodorant [ de and de]

decade [ add. de]

decadent [ add. decade]

recitation

declaration

decoration

demilitarization [ add. de]

demi-season

dismantling [ add. de]

depression [ add. de, re]

leatherette

definition [ add. de]

hyphen [ add. de]

deformation [ add. de]

dividend

kinescope

competent

competence

congress [ add. re]

congressman [ add. re, me]

context

correct

cream [ add. re]

compartment, but: coupe [ pe]

legionary

mixer [ add. se]

policeman

mystery

cologne

cop

press conference

pressing

progression [ add. re]

referent

safe [ add. ce]

sexology [ add. ce],but: sex [se]

serverat [ add. ce]

service [ add. ce]

session [ add. ce]

athlete [rc]

therapist [ add. te]

Terminator

thermonuclear [ add. te]

terror [ add. te]

fashionable [ add. ne]

shrapnel

express [ add. re]

expression [ add. re]

epidemic

essence

jurisprudence

The Russian language as a whole is characterized by the opposition of hard and soft consonants.

Wed: small and crumpled, WHO and carried, sir and ser, mouse and bear.

In many European languages there is no such opposition. When borrowing, the word usually obeys the pronunciation norms of the Russian language. So, before e in Russian, a soft consonant usually sounds: chalk, no. Many borrowed words begin to be pronounced in the same way: meter, rebus. However, in other cases, the pronunciation of a hard consonant is retained in the borrowed word: adept[adept], amber[ambre], although this is not graphically reflected. Usually, after a hard consonant in Russian, it is written e, after a soft one - e. In loanwords, as a rule, it is written e. Consonants can be pronounced both softly and firmly.

When pronouncing a borrowed word, several parameters must be taken into account.

1. The pronunciation of hard consonants is usually retained by foreign surnames:

Shope[e]n, Volte[e]r.

2. The pronunciation of hard consonants is usually preserved in the words of the book, little used, recently included in the Russian language:

de[e]-facto, apart[e]id, re[e]yting.

As the word is fixed in the language, the pronunciation of a hard consonant can be replaced by the pronunciation of a soft one (in accordance with the spelling). So, now it is possible to have a double pronunciation of the consonant in words:

de[e/e] grade, de[e/e] valuation, de[e/e] duction, de[e/e] odorant, de[e/e] can.

3. A certain role is played by the type of consonant located before e.

So, in borrowed words with the combination de, the consonant is regularly softened (in accordance with the spelling):

de[e]coration, de[e]clamation, de[e]mobilization.

The process of softening the consonant is quite active in words with combinations not, re:

abre[e]k, aggreg[e]ssia, watercolor[e]l, take[e]t, re[e]gent, re[e]yter, re[e]feri, brunet[e]t, tire[ spruce.

On the contrary, the combination of those quite stably preserves the solid pronunciation of the consonant: ate [e] lie, jewelry [e] ria, bute [e] rbrod, de [e] te [e] active, te [e] rier.

4. A well-known role is played by the source of borrowing and the place in the word combination with e.

So, the pronunciation of a solid consonant sound is stably preserved by those words that are borrowed from French with a final stressed syllable:

entre [e], meringue [e], corrugated [e], curé [e], paste [e] l.

5. In book words in which the letter e is not preceded by a consonant, but by a vowel, the sound [j] is not pronounced.

Compare: in Russian words: ate [j] ate, over [j] ate; in borrowed words: die[e]ta, brown[e]s, project[e]kt, projector[e]ctor, project[e]ction, ree[e]p.

It is absolutely unacceptable to pronounce [j] in the word poet and its derivatives ( poetic, poetess).

note

The pronunciation of hard and soft consonants in borrowed words has a social significance. If the pronunciation of a solid consonant still remains the norm (for example, chimpanzee[e], corrugated[e], computer[e]r, madem[dm] oise[e]l), then the pronunciation of the soft consonant in such words ( chimpanzee[e], corrugated[e], computer[e]r, made[e] moise[e]l) can be perceived by listeners as a manifestation of the low culture of the speaker. At the same time, the pronunciation of a hard consonant where the pronunciation of a soft consonant has already become the norm can be perceived by listeners as a manifestation of philistinism, pretentiousness, pseudo-intelligence. So, for example, the pronunciation of solid consonants in words is perceived: acade[e]mic, take[e]t, brunet[e]t, accounting[e]r, de[e]claration, de[e]magog, de[e]mocrat, coffee[e], te[e ]ma, te[e]rmome[e]tr, fane[e]ra, tire[e]l.

In the pronunciation of a number of words, difficulties arise due to the indistinguishability of letters in the printed text. e and yo , since only one graphic symbol is used to designate them - e . This situation leads to a distortion of the phonetic appearance of the word, causes frequent pronunciation errors. You need to remember two sets of words:

1) with a letter e and sound [" uh]: af e ra, be e , live e , grenad e r, op e ka, os e dumb, stupid e ny, foreign e ny, w e non-hater;

2) with a letter yo and sound [" about]: beznad yo zhy, payment yo capable, man yo vry, white yo syy, bl yo cool, w yo personal, w yo lie (option - w e lch), one yo ny.

In some pairs of words, a different meaning is accompanied by a different sound of the stressed vowel: ist e kshiy (term) - but: ist yo kshiy (with blood), screams as loud e ny - but: decree, announce yo given in the morning etc. .

Some difficult cases of pronunciation of consonants

1. According to old Moscow norms, the spelling combination -ch- should always be pronounced like [sh] in words: bakery, on purpose, penny, fiddling, creamy, apple and under. Currently, the pronunciation has been preserved only in some words: sure, boring, scrambled eggs, fiddling, birdhouse, bachelorette party. In the vast majority of other words, [ch] is pronounced, as it is written: toy, creamy, apple, flour, snack bar, wine glass etc.

Pronunciation [ sh] is also preserved today in female patronymics ending in -ichna: Nikitichna, Ilyinichna etc..

According to old Moscow norms, the combination -thu- pronounced like [pcs] in the word what and in words derived from it: nothing, something and others: currently this rule is preserved (with the exception of the word something[Th]). In all other words, spelling - thu- always pronounced like [th]: mail, dream, mast.

2. In words man, defector on the spot zhch, in the form of the comparative degree of adverbs tougher, tougher(and biting) in place stch, as well as in place of combinations zch and mid customer, sandstone, cost accounting etc. is pronounced [ sch]: mu[sh]ina, perebe[sh]ik, zhe[sh]e etc.

3. When several consonants accumulate in some words, one of them is not pronounced: learning [s "n"] ik, ve [s "n"] ik according to [zn] o, pra[zn] ik, soviet [s "l"] ive, maximum [ss] cue etc. .

4. Hard consonants before soft consonants can soften:

a) must be softened n before soft h and with: face [n "z"] iya, pretense [n "z"] iya;

b) n in front of soft t and d softens: a["n"t"]personal, ka[n"d"]idat.

Pronunciation of loanwords

Many borrowed words have orthoepic features that must be remembered.

1. In some words of foreign origin, the sound [o] is pronounced in place of the unstressed o: beau monde, trio, boa, cocoa, biostimulant, veto, gross, net, advice note, oasis, reputation. Word pronunciation poetry, credo and others with unstressed [o] optional. Proper names of foreign origin also retain unstressed [o] as a variant of literary pronunciation: Chopin, Voltaire, Sacramento and etc.

2. In some borrowed words, after vowels and at the beginning of a word, unstressed [e] sounds quite distinctly: aegis, evolution, duelist and etc.

3. In oral speech, certain difficulties are caused by pronouncing a hard or soft consonant in borrowed words before the letter e: t[em]p or [t "e] mp? bass [se] yn or bass [s "e] yn? In some cases, a soft consonant is pronounced.

Soft pronunciation:

In other cases before e a hard consonant is pronounced.

Solid pronunciation:

4. Currently, there are fluctuations in the pronunciation of words:

6. In loanwords with two (or more) e often one of the consonants is pronounced softly, while the other remains firm before e: gene sis[g "ene], relay[rel "e] and others.

7. Solid [ w] is pronounced in words pair shyu t[shu], bro shyu ra[shu]. In the word jury pronounced soft hissing [ w"]. Names are softly pronounced Julien, Jules.

8. When pronouncing some words, erroneous extra consonants or vowels sometimes appear. Should be pronounced:

incident, not incident[n]dent;

precedent, not precede[n] dent;

compromise, not compromise;

competitive, not competitive[n]capable;

emergency, not h[e] extraordinary;

institution, not education;

future, not future;

thirsty, not thirsty

1) with a letter e and sound [" uh]: af e ra, be e , live e , grenad e r, op e ka, os e dumb, stupid e ny, foreign e ny, w e non-hater;

2) with a letter yo and sound [" about]: beznad yo zhy, payment yo capable, man yo vry, white yo syy, bl yo cool, w yo personal, w yo lie (option - w e lch), one yo ny.

§1.2. Some difficult cases of pronunciation of consonants

1. According to old Moscow norms, the spelling combination -ch- should always be pronounced like [ sh ] in words: bakery, on purpose, penny, fiddling, creamy, apple and under. Currently, the pronunciation has been preserved only in some words: sure, boring, scrambled eggs, fiddling, birdhouse, bachelorette party. In the vast majority of other words, [ch] is pronounced, as it is written: toy, creamy, apple, flour, snack bar, wine glass etc.

Pronunciation [ sh] is also preserved today in female patronymics ending in -ichna: Nikitichna, Ilyinichna etc..

According to old Moscow norms, the combination -thu- pronounced like [pcs] in the word what and in words derived from it: nothing, something and others: currently this rule is preserved (with the exception of the word something[Th]). In all other words, spelling - thu- always pronounced like [th]: mail, dream, mast.

3. When several consonants accumulate in some words, one of them is not pronounced: teaching [s "n"] ik, ve [s "n"] ik by [zn] o, pra [zn] ik, sove [s "l"] ive, maximum [ss] cue etc. .

4. Hard consonants before soft consonants can soften:

a) must be softened n before soft h and with: face [n "z"] iya, pretense [n "z"] iya;

b) n in front of soft t and d softens: a["n"t"]personal, ka[n"d"]idat.

Ppronunciation of borrowed words

Many borrowed words have orthoepic features that must be remembered.

1. In some words of foreign origin in place of unstressed about the sound is pronounced [ about]: babout mond, threeabout, babout ah, whatabout , biabout stimulant, vetabout , grossabout , nettabout , adviceabout , about asis, renabout me. Word pronunciation Pabout ezia, creedabout and others with unstressed [ about] optional. Proper names of foreign origin also retain the unstressed [ about] as a variant of literary pronunciation: Wabout pen, Vabout Altair, Sacramentabout and etc.

2. In some borrowed words, after vowels and at the beginning of a word, the unstressed [ uh]: uh guideuh evolution, douh lant and etc.

3. In oral speech, certain difficulties are caused by pronouncing a hard or soft consonant in borrowed words before a letter e: t[em]p or [t "e] mp? bass[se]yn or bass [s "e] yn? In some cases, a soft consonant is pronounced.

Soft pronunciation:

akade mia[d "e]

de mocratic[d "e]

inthose lect[t "e]

tofe [f "e]

tore m[r "e]

muze th[z "e]

Ode ss[d "e]

Pre ss[r "e]

Pre ssing[r "e]

those rmin[t "e]

fede real[d "e]

lawyerde nation[d "e]

take t[b "e r" e]

sheanot eh[n "e]

pionot R[n "e]

de butt[d "e]

de on foot[d "e]

computerthose ntny[t "e]

corere ktny[r "e]

pathose nt[t "e]

decre t[r "e]

conchre tny[r "e]

In other cases before e a hard consonant is pronounced.

Solid pronunciation:

barthose R[te]

businessme n[me]

deteasset [dete]

aboutthose action[te]

tande m [de]

re iting[re]

de -yuro[de]

computerthose R[te]

summaryme [me]

inde xation[de]

inthose tore[te]

inthose tear[te]

tode ks[de]

laze R[ze]

mode eh[de]

sellse R[se]

Renaultme [me]

those mp[te]

uhnot rgy[ne]

me negger[me]

those sis[te]

those st[te]

de - facto[de]

boothose rbrod[te]

ennot ksia[ne]

inthose intense[te]

Gre yepfruit[re]

de graduate[de]

dispanse R[se]

andde antique[de]

4. Currently, there are fluctuations in the pronunciation of words:

de inform[d "e / de]	bassse yin[s "e / se]	tore before[r "e / re]
Se Russia[s "e / se]	de kada[d "e / de]	progre ss[r "e / re]
de fis[d "e / de]	de pressure[d "e / de]	de can[d "e / de]
prethose nzia[t "e / te]

Both hard and soft pronunciation is possible.

In loanwords beginning with prefixes de- before vowels, dez-, as well as in the first part of compound words starting with neo-, with a general tendency to soften, there are fluctuations in the pronunciation of soft and hard d and n:

5. In foreign proper names, it is recommended to firmly pronounce consonants before e: De kart, flobe r, minot li, "De Cameron",Re jigan.

6. In loanwords with two (or more) e often one of the consonants is pronounced softly, while the other remains firm before e: gene sis[g "ene], relay[rel "e] and etc.

7. Solid [ w] is pronounced in words pairshyu t[shu], broshyu ra[shu]. In the word jury pronounced soft hissing [ w"]. Names are softly pronounced Julien, Jules.