24 Comments
118
Yes, because the Russian language, as well as the German language, have a linguistic phenomenon called "neutralization". Voiced sounds at the end of sentences or words convert to unvoiced sounds.
Is there a rule for what different sounds become once they're neutralised?
- 118
Yes: в, з, ж, б, д, г change to ф, с, ш, п, т, к.
Why? Because they are voiced obstruents (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstruent) and neutralize with their unvoiced counterparts (e. g. п and б are exactly the same, but б is voiced, that is, pronounciating it makes the vocal cords vibrate).
In Russian (and some more languages) at the end of words they become or stay all voiceless. Further information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final-obstruent_devoicing
Edit: If the words end with an obstruent + ь, the neutralization also occurs (Любовь (love) sounds exactly like Любофь).
It amuses me to know Russian still shares many things with other languages, for a moment, I was hearing it in Portuguese:
- Cadê nossa bagagem?
- 524
Where are out bags - где нашИ багажИ? Here is a single number. And "Где наши багажи" is unnaturally on russian.
"Сумка" is Russian for "bag". Also, you can't say "багажи" since "багаж" is a mass noun.
