Page:A Danish and Dano-Norwegian grammar.djvu/60

46 Before k the same sound is represented by n alone; Ex. : Tanke (ngk) thought, Bœnk bench.

The same is also sometimes the case before g in foreign words, ng thus representing the sound of ngg: Kongo, Ungarn Hungary; and in words of French origin also in other cases; Ex. : balancere (ngs) to balance. Sometimes also in compound words a k or g may affect a preceding dental n so as to make it guttural: Haan(d)klœ(d)e (ngk) towel; but as a rule both sounds remain the same as in the separate words; Angiver (n-j) informer, angaa(n-g) to concern. In some words of French origin ng is pronounced ngsj (sj representing the sound of Engl. sh, see § 113); Ex. : rangere pron. rangsjere, to rank, but tangere (ngg) to touch.

118. r in Norway as a rule is a trilled point consonant. Before a voice consonant or vowel it is voiced, before a voiceless consonant it is generally voiceless. It is formed by allowing the point of the tongue to vibrate against the gums while the breath of air passes trough. It is always distinctly pronounced, never modified like final r in English; Ex. : Ry fame, Ror rudder, höre to hear.

1. In the south-western part of Norway is used an uvular r.

2. The alveolar r exerts a peculiar influence on a following dental sound t, d, l, n, s (see §§ 114 note, 116 note). In polished language these supradental varieties of the front sounds as a rule are avoided after a short vowel as vulgar, except rs; Ex. : Vers verse (pron. almost versh), Person (pron. almost pershon).

119. kj is a medio-palatal fricative sound corresponding to German ch in ich. The English language has no corresponding sound although the middle sound produced in English between t and y in such combinations as not yet, don't you has a certain resemblance to it. The sound is produced by raising the middle of the tongue towards the palate without touching it, while at the same time the point of the tongue is lowered behind the lower teeth and the side edges of the tongue touch the second molars. The orthographic sign is kj except before i and y when it is k; Ex. : kjöre to