Vokalförbindelserna

Vokalförbindelserna, also known as vowel harmony or vowel gradation, is a phonological phenomenon found in many languages, particularly in the Uralic and Altaic language families. It refers to the systematic alternation of vowels within a word or phrase based on the quality of a preceding or following vowel. This process is not merely a matter of phonetic reduction or simplification, but rather a systematic and rule-governed change in vowel quality.

In languages with vokalförbindelserna, vowels are typically classified into two or more groups, often referred to as "harmonic sets." For example, in Finnish, vowels are divided into front and back vowels. When a word contains both front and back vowels, the back vowels may shift to become more front-like, or vice versa, to maintain harmony within the word. This process can affect both the quality and quantity of the vowels involved.

Vokalförbindelserna is not limited to a single language family. It is also found in languages such as Hungarian, Turkish, and some dialects of Swedish. In these languages, the rules governing vokalförbindelserna can vary significantly, affecting not only the quality of the vowels but also their length and even their nasalization.

The study of vokalförbindelserna is an important area of linguistics, as it provides insights into the phonological systems of languages and the ways in which speakers and writers adapt their speech to maintain linguistic harmony. Understanding vokalförbindelserna can also aid in language learning and teaching, as it helps learners to predict and produce the correct vowel forms in words and phrases.