View source for Sj-sound

{{short description|Voiceless fricative phoneme of Swedish}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Sj''-sound}}
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{{Lead rewrite|date=November 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2021}}
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{{Infobox IPA
|above=Voiceless palatal-velar fricative (''Sj''-sound)
|ipa symbol=ɧ
|ipa number=175
|decimal=615
|xsampa=x\
|imagefile=IPA Unicode 0x0267.svg
|imagesize=150px
}}

The '''''sj''-sound''' ({{langx|sv|sj-ljudet}} {{IPA|sv|ˈɧêːˌjʉːdɛt|}}) is a [[voiceless]] [[fricative]] [[phoneme]] found in the [[Swedish phonology|sound system of]] most [[Swedish dialects|dialects of Swedish]]. It has a variety of realisations, whose precise [[phonetics|phonetic]] characterisation is a matter of debate, but which usually feature distinct [[labialization]]. The sound is represented in [[Swedish orthography]] by a number of spellings, the most common of which are the [[digraph (orthography)|digraphs]] and [[trigraph (orthography)|trigraphs]] {{angbr|sj}} (from which the common Swedish name for the sound is derived), {{angbr|stj}}, {{angbr|skj}}, and (before [[front vowel]]s) {{angbr|sk}}; if considered in [[complementary distribution]] with {{IPAblink|ʂ}}, up to 65 different spellings for the phoneme have been identified in native words and [[loanword]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/65-mojliga-och-omojliga-satt-att-stava-sje-ljudet|title=Om sje-ljudet och möjliga och omöjliga sätt att stava sje-ljudet|language=sv|work=Om Språket|publisher=[[Sveriges Radio]]|date=30 August 2010|access-date=27 May 2025}}</ref> The sound should not be confused with the Swedish ''tj''-sound {{IPAslink|ɕ}}, usually spelled {{angbr|tj}}, {{angbr|kj}}, or (before front vowels) {{angbr|k}}.

These sounds are transcribed {{angbr IPA|ɧ}} in the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]]. The [[International Phonetic Association]] (IPA) describes them as "simultaneous {{IPAblink|ʃ}} and {{IPAblink|x}}", but this realization is not attested, and phoneticians doubt that such a realization actually occurs in any language.<ref name=Lad>{{harvnb|Ladefoged|Maddieson|1996}}.</ref>{{Page missing|date=May 2025}} Other descriptive labels include:
* ''Voiceless postalveolo-velar fricative''
* ''Voiceless palatal-velar fricative''
* ''Voiceless dorso-palatal velar fricative''
* ''Voiceless postalveolar and velar fricative''
* ''Voiceless coarticulated velar and palatoalveolar fricative''

The closest sound found in English, as well as many other languages, is the [[voiceless postalveolar fricative]] {{IPA|[ʃ]}} (Swedish words with the sound often correspond to English words with "sh", such as "shield", "shoot"), although usually the closest audible approximation is the [[voiceless labialized velar approximant]] {{IPA|[ʍ]}} found in some English dialects. Regionally, it varies from being more {{IPAblink|ʍ}}-like in the standard speech, to being more {{IPAblink|ʃ}}-like in northern Sweden and Finland. The ''tj''-sound (which often corresponds to English words with "ch", such as "chicken", "church") remains distinct, varying from more {{IPAblink|ʃ}}-like (i.e., {{IPAslink|ɕ}}) in the standard speech to more {{IPAblink|tʃ}}-like in northern Sweden and Finland.

==Features==
Features of the ''sj''-sound:

{{fricative}}
* Its [[place of articulation]] varies by dialect, but usually includes a velar component.
{{voiceless short}}
{{oral}}
{{central articulation}}
{{pulmonic}}

==Occurrence==
===Dialects of Swedish===
{{Over-quotation|lengthy=y|date=June 2019}}
[[File:Sv-sj-sound in five variants.ogg|thumb|The word {{lang|sv|skjuta}} "to shoot", as pronounced in [[Central Swedish|Central Standard Swedish]], [[Småländska|Småland Swedish]], [[Norrland dialects|Norrland Swedish]], [[Finland Swedish]] and [[Rinkeby Swedish]], respectively.]]

This sound has been reported in certain dialects of [[Swedish language|Swedish]], where it is most often known as the ''sj''-sound.

Its [[place of articulation]] varies over Swedish regions and is not agreed upon. It has been variously found to be the following:
* [[Velar consonant|velar]] and [[postalveolar]], meaning it is articulated simultaneously with the [[tongue]] dorsum (i.e. the back part of the tongue) approximating the [[Soft palate|velum]] (i.e. the soft [[palate]], like {{IPAblink|x}}) and just behind the teeth (like {{IPAblink|ʃ}}). However, [[Doubly articulated consonant|doubly articulated]] fricatives are very difficult to pronounce or to hear, and many linguists doubt that they exist.<ref name=Lad/>
* Lindblad describes one of two common variants of Swedish {{IPA|/ɧ/}} as [[labiodental consonant|labiodental]] with simultaneous [[velarization]] and [[roundedness|protrusion of the upper lip]], which would be transcribed as {{IPA|[fˠʷ]}}. (The English sigh of relief ''phew!'' is one approximation, as is the [[voiceless labial-velar approximant]] that is used in some varieties of English.) He does not use the symbol {{angbr IPA|ɧ}} for this allophone.
* Lindblad describes the second common variant of Swedish {{IPA|/ɧ/}} as [[velar consonant|velar]]. The difference between it and the cardinal velar {{IPAblink|x}} is not clear, but it may have less friction {{IPAblink|x̞}}, or be further forward {{IPAblink|x̟}}, or both.
* Riad notes that the basic dorsal place of assimilation can be determined by the place of assimilation of a preceding nasal, with ''en skjorta'' 'a shirt', for example, being pronounced {{IPA|[ɛŋˈɧʊʈːa]}}. He notes a labialized allophone {{IPA|[ɧᶠ]}}.<ref>Tomas Riad (2014) ''The Phonology of Swedish'', Oxford University Press, p. 61.</ref>
* A number of intermediate possibilities between these extremes.
* Other articulations have been described as well, with no obvious standard emerging.

Consider the following comments by [[Peter Ladefoged]] and [[Ian Maddieson]]:

{{quotation|Some dialects of Swedish have a fricative that has been said to have two or even three articulatory constrictions (Abercrombie 1967). We do not, however, think it is correct for more than one of these constrictions to be considered a fricative articulation. There is good data available on the Swedish sibilant fricatives (Lindblad 1980) allowing us to consider these sounds in detail. [...] The basic descriptive problem is one of geographical, social, and stylistic variation. [...]

The [...] Swedish fricative, usually symbolized by '''{{IPA|ɧ}}''', is the most interesting. Lindblad describes two common variants of Swedish '''{{IPA|ɧ}}'''. The first, for which he uses a different symbol, he calls a highly rounded, labiodental, velar or velarized fricative. [...] Lindblad suggests that the source of frication is between the lower lip and the upper teeth, and it certainly appears to be so from his x-ray. He also demonstrates that the upper lip is considerably protruded in comparison with its position with that in the gesture of '''{{IPA|i}}'''. In addition to these anterior gestures, Lindblad notes that the "tongue body is raised and retracted towards the velum to form a fairly narrow constriction. (The presence of this constriction is constant, but not its width or location, which vary considerably.)" The posterior constriction in this variety of '''{{IPA|ɧ}}''' is not great enough to be itself a source of turbulence, so that, although this sound may have three notable constrictions, one in the velar region, one labiodental, and a lesser one between the two lips, only the labiodental constriction is a source of friction.

The second common variant of Swedish '''{{IPA|ɧ}}''' [...] is described by Lindblad as a "dorsovelar voiceless fricative" pronounced with the jaw more open and without the lip protrusion that occurs in the other variety. Lindblad suggests that the difference between this sound and the more usual velar fricative '''{{IPA|x}}''' is that the latter "is formed with low frequency irregular vibrations in the saliva at the constriction" (Lindblad 1980, our translation). We infer from his descriptions and diagrams that this variant of '''{{IPA|ɧ}}''' has less frication, and may be slightly further forward than the velar fricative '''{{IPA|x}}''' commonly found in other languages. Lindblad claims that between the extreme positions of the labiodental '''{{IPA|ɧ}}''' and the more velar '''{{IPA|ɧ}}''', "there are a number of intermediate types with various jaw and lip positions, including some with both anterior and posterior sound sources." [W]e doubt that it is possible to produce turbulence at two points in mouth simultaneously for ordinary linguistic purposes.

[...]

The most well-known<!-- sic --> case [of a possible multiply articulated fricative] is the Swedish segment that has been described as a doubly articulated voiceless palato-alveolo-velar fricative, i.e., '''{{IPA|ʃ͡x}}'''. The IPA even goes so far as to provide a separate symbol for this sound on its chart, namely '''{{IPA|ɧ}}'''. The sound in question is one variant of the pronunciation of the phonological element '''{{IPA|ʃ}}''', which is highly variable in Swedish dialects, receiving pronunciations ranging from a palatalized bilabial sound to a velarized palato-alveolar one to a fully velar one. [I]t is not clear that any of the variants is actually a doubly articulated fricative.|{{harvnb|Ladefoged|Maddieson|1996|pp=171–172, 329–330}}}}

===Kölsch===
<!-- This section is linked from [[Colognian phonology#Consonants]]. -->
A sound transcribed with {{angbr IPA|ɧ}} is also reported to occur in the [[Colognian dialect|Kölsch variety]] of [[Ripuarian language|Ripuarian]] in [[Germany]],<ref name="heike">{{cite journal|first=Georg|last=Heike|author-link=Georg Heike|title=Zur Phonologie der Stadtkölner Mundart|language=de|journal=Deutsche Dialektgeographie Band|issue=57|location=Marburg|year=1964}}</ref><ref name="bhatt_herrwegen">{{cite book|first1=Christa|last1=Bhatt|first2=Alice|last2=Herrwegen|title=Das Kölsche Wörterbuch|language=de,ksh|publisher=Bachem-Verlag Köln|edition=2nd|year=2005|isbn=3-7616-1942-1}}</ref> being articulated in positions in words that [[Dachsprache|enveloping Standard German]] has {{IPAblink|ç}}.

The acoustic difference between {{IPA|/ʃ/}} and the Kölsch {{IPA|/ɧ/}} is difficult to perceive but the [[Manner of articulation|articulation]] is clearly distinct.<ref name="heike"/> Whether or not there is a relation between Swedish {{IPA|/ɧ/}} and the Kölsch {{IPA|/ɧ/}} is not known. While none seems to have been established, comments suggest that the choice of {{angbr IPA|ɧ}} might well have been based upon a misunderstanding.<ref name="bhatt_herrwegen"/> Certainly, the Kölsch {{IPA|/ɧ/}} is not [[Co-articulated consonant|doubly articulated]] and even contrasts with a slightly [[velarization|velarized]] {{IPA|/ʃ/}}.

Some phoneticians, such as {{ill|Georg Sachse|de}} of the [[University of Cologne]] in his lessons on IPA transcription, suggest that {{angbr IPA|ɕ}} might be a better symbol for the sound.

===Himalayan languages===
A sound transcribed with {{angbr IPA|ɧ}} is also reported word-initially and word-medially in the [[Wutun language]], where it is described simply as a "velar glide", which would be {{IPA|[ɰ]}}.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Sandman |first=Erika |title=A Grammar of Wutun |date=2016 |degree=Ph.D. |publisher=University of Helsinki |url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/168427/AGrammar.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |isbn=978-951-51-2633-7 |hdl=10138/168427 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> The symbol is also used in describing a sound in the [[Bahing language]] of Nepal.<ref>{{cite journal |page=230 |last=Lee |first=Maureen |title=Issues in Bahing orthography development |journal=Himalayan Linguistics |volume=10 |issue=1 |year=2011 |doi=10.5070/H910123575|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Index of phonetics articles]]
* [[Rheinische Dokumenta#Unvoiced fricatives|Rheinische Dokumenta]]
* [[Swedish phonology]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Abercrombie|first=David|author-link=David Abercrombie (linguist)|year=1967|title=Elements of general phonetics|url=https://archive.org/details/elementsofgenera0000aber|url-access=registration|location=Chicago|publisher=Aldine}}
* {{cite book|last=Garlén|first=Claes|year=1988|title=Svenskans fonologi : [i kontrastiv och typologisk belysning]|language=sv|location=Lund|publisher=[[Studentlitteratur]] [Ny utg.]}}
* {{cite book|last1=Ladefoged|first1=Peter|author-link1=Peter Ladefoged|last2=Maddieson|first2=Ian|author-link2=Ian Maddieson|year=1996|title=The sounds of the world's languages|location=Oxford|publisher=Blackwell Publishers}}
* {{cite journal|last=Lindblad|first=Per|year=1980|title=Svenskans sj- och tj-ljud i ett Allmänfonetisk Perspektiv|language=sv|journal=Travaux de l'Institut de Linguistique de Lund|issue=16|location=Lund|publisher=C. W. K. Gleerup}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{phoible|ɧ}}

{{Swedish language}}
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[[Category:Fricative consonants]]
[[Category:Swedish language]]
[[Category:Co-articulated consonants]]
[[Category:Voiceless oral consonants]]
[[Category:Central consonants]]
[[Category:Pulmonic consonants]]
[[Category:Phonemes]]