atsimuuttiksi

Atsimuuttiksi, also known as the "Finnish mutation," is a phonological process that occurs in the Finnish language, specifically in the Southern Finnish dialects. It involves the transformation of certain consonants at the beginning of a word when the word is preceded by a specific set of vowels. This process is a result of historical sound changes and is not found in all Finnish dialects.

The mutation affects the following consonants: p, t, k, v, and s. When these consonants are at the beginning of a word and are preceded by the vowels a, o, or u, they undergo a change. The specific changes are as follows:

- p becomes v

- t becomes d

- k becomes g

- v becomes p

- s becomes z

For example, the word "pää" (head) becomes "vää" when preceded by the vowel o, as in "kova vää" (hard head). Similarly, "talo" (house) becomes "dalo" when preceded by the vowel a, as in "kova dalo" (hard house).

Atsimuuttiksi is an important aspect of Finnish phonology and is a key feature that distinguishes the Southern Finnish dialects from other Finnish dialects and from Swedish, which does not exhibit this mutation. It is a reflection of the rich history and evolution of the Finnish language.