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Consonantal change as a functional process is probably far less common than vocalic modifications, but it is not exactly rare. There is an interesting group of cases in English, certain nouns and corresponding verbs differing solely in that the final consonant is voiceless or voiced. Examples are wreath (with th as in think), but to wreathe (with th as in then); house, but to house (with s pronounced like z). That we have a distinct feeling for the interchange as a means of distinguishing the noun from the verb is indicated by the extension of the principle by many Americans to such a noun as rise (e.g., the rise of democracy)—pronounced like rice—in contrast to the verb to rise (s like z) 去书内
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  • 用户870568 用户870568

    作为一种功能性语音变化，辅音音变的出现频次远低于元音音变，但也并非十分少见。英语中就存在一类有趣的现象：部分名词与其对应的动词，唯一区别就在于词尾辅音是清辅音还是浊辅音。例如名词**wreath**（花环）中，字母组合th的发音和think中的th一致；而动词**wreathe**（缠绕）里，th的发音则和then中的th相同。再比如名词**house**（房屋），对应的动词**house**（安置）中，字母s发音等同于z。不少美国人还将这一语音规律延伸运用，比如名词**rise**（兴起，如“民主的兴起”）发音和rice相近，而动词**rise**（上升）中s发z的音，这也足以说明，人们明显会借助这类语音差异来区分名词和动词。

    2026-06-10 喜欢(0) 回复(0)

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