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September 4

pronunciation of Taras Shevchenko

Is [tɐˈrɑz ɦrɪˈɦɔrowɪtʃ ʃeu̯ˈtʃɛnko] correct? Why isn't Тарас tɐˈrɑs? And how is Lesya Ukrainka pronounced? -- Espoo (talk) 05:30, 4 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Quoting Ukrainian phonology § Consonant assimilation: "Ukrainian has assimilatory voicing: voiceless obstruents are voiced when preceding voiced obstruents." The obstruent /ɦ/ is voiced. Without the middle name, you get [tɐˈrɑs ʃeu̯ˈtʃɛnko].

Леся (Lesya) is a shortened form of Олеся (Olesya), for which Wiktionary gives the pronunciation [ɔˈɫɛsʲɐ]. I guess that the darkening of the ⟨l⟩ is triggered by the preceding [ɔ], so that Леся would become [ˈlɛsʲɐ]. (Our article Ukrainian phonology does not even mention possible velarization of the ⟨l⟩.) The common adjective українка is pronounced (again according to Wiktionary) [ʊkrɐˈjinkɐ]; the pseudonymous use as a proper noun would be pronounced identically. Combining the two, we get [ˈlɛsʲɐ ʊkrɐˈjinkɐ]. --Lambiam 08:02, 4 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! --Espoo (talk) 07:10, 6 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]