Preaspiration in the Nordic Languages: Synchronic and Diachronic ...

(VC vs. VC). For two pairs (/tak/ vs. /tak/ and /dit/ vs. /dit/) preaspiration
proved to be a major distinguishing factor. Durational measurements
for vowel, preaspiration and occlusion showed that in the VC words, the
vowel occupied approximately one-third, the preaspiration slightly less
than one-third and the closure slightly more than one-third of the entire
VC interval. In the VC words, preaspiration duration was negligible,
and the vowel occupied slightly more than half of the VC sequence, and
the occlusion slightly less than half. Wretling et al. did not investigate the
lenis stops, but presumably these are predominantly voiced in the
corresponding contexts.
According to Reitan (1930), the dialect of Särna in Northern Dalarna
has a similar kind of distribution of preaspiration as the Hede dialect, at
least in the speech of older informants. As in all preaspirating dialects,
ON pp, tt, kk are preaspirated. But, contrary to the Hede dialect, instead
of preaspirating word-final lengthened stops, the Särna dialect tends to
preaspirate the intervocalic lengthened stops, although this is less than
regular. In word-final position we get, for example, sk ‘shot’ and
œ ‘meat.’ In intervocalic position we get, for example, rhk
‘spade’ and vehk beside vek ‘week.’ Again, it is tempting to see
this as a development from the type of distribution we find in the Vemdalen
dialect, but there is nothing that demands such a conclusion.
Let us turn now to preaspiration in clusters. The discussion will be
limited to the Vemdalen dialect, since it is there that we have the most
complete description. According to Reitan, t(t)n, kkj and ttj are the
only ON clusters that yield preaspiration in the Vemdalen dialect. As
reflexes of ON t(t)n, we have examples such as in rhe ‘to rot’ and
vh ‘water.’ ON ttj and kkj have merged into a preaspirated
affricate, while tj and kj have merged into an unaspirated affricate.
Relevant examples include føe ‘move’ (< ON flytja) and ryhe
‘yank’ (< ON rykkja). Thus, one can say that tj and kj have been treated
like simple stops (not clusters) and ttj and kkj have been treated like
geminate stops.
ON tl yields a voiceless lateral (palatal under certain conditions),
for example ie ‘small’ and mu ‘chew slowly’ (< ON mutla).
ON p(p)t yields a voiceless labiodental fricative, as in juf ‘deep
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