Savo Finnish

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The Savo dialect of Finnish is the largest dialect of the Finnish language. It is an Eastern dialect, developed from the original Karelian dialect of Finnish settlers. It is rather different from standard (Western) Finnish for several reasons.

It retains synchronic palatalization of some consonants, which is denoted by digraphs with a 'j', e.g. /kot'/.
The vowels have developed differently from the proto-form of Finnish; thus, where standard language has a diphthong, Savo may have a long vowel, and vice versa. For example, kääp cf. standard käypi, or mua cf. standard maa.
The generic gemination affects word-medial simple consonants. A native Savonian doesn't say he speaks savoa, he says he speaks savvoo.
The combined effect of the three features above is referred to as "crooked chin" (viäräleuka cf. standard vääräleuka). Whereas standard Finnish has a "declarative" rhythm, Savo has an "expressive" rhythm. The different way of producing speech is noticeable even if the speaker speaks perfect standard Finnish.
The paragoge of 'i' in the nominative is replaced by palatalization of the last consonant, thus we have moottorj instead of moottori.
The glottal stop replaces word-final 'n'.
All other consonants except the last one (which contacts the nucleic vowel) are systematically and completely removed in loans, e.g. traktori as raktorj.
An epenthetic vowel vowel is found where a syllable coda of L, H or N contacts the syllable onset consonant of the next syllable, e.g. vanaha. This vowel is identical in quality to the preceding vowel.

It is also a particularly creative variety of Finnish. Usage of verb compounds, where the first part is in the infinitive and indicates the action, and the second part is declined and indicates the manner, is a particularly prolific source of creative expressions. For example, seistä toljotat "you stand there gawking" consists of words meaning "to-stand you-gawk".

The process of transforming standard Finnish to Savo is regular enough to be implemented using regular expressions. Here is an example of such a "translation":

Hyväntahtoinen aurinko katseli heitä. Se ei missään tapauksessa ollut heille vihainen. Kenties tunsi jonkinlaista myötätuntoa heitä kohtaan. Aika velikultia.
Hyväntahtoene' aarinko kahtelj heetä. Se ee missään tappaaksessa ollu heelle vihhaenen. Kenties tunsj jonkinlaesta myötätuntoo heetä kohtaan. Aeka veljkultija. (http://muljaatin.mastertraining.fi/)

External link

[Tavvoo savvoo]

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