Consonant Mutation - 2
Changes in Spelling of the added suffix to reflect Changes in Pronunciation
Consonant Equivalents
| Unvoiced and Voiced Letter Equivalents |
| Unvoiced p equivalent to Voiced b |
Unvoiced f equivalent to Voiced v |
| Unvoiced ç equivalent to Voiced c |
Unvoiced s no equivalent - |
| Unvoiced t equivalent to Voiced d |
Unvoiced ş no equivalent - |
| Unvoiced k equivalent to Voiced ğ |
Unvoiced h no equivalent - |
Spelling Changes to Suffixes
We saw in the Introduction to Consonant Change that words ending in an unvoiced consonant change it to the voiced equivalent when a vowel is added - for example as in bilek - wrist - which becomes - bileği - his wrist
However the converse happens when adding a suffix which begins with an unvoiced consonant, as the suffix itself must take its own voiced form.
For Example - the suffix meaning - in, on, at - is -de or -da [the voiced form] , but it also changes to -te or -ta [the unvoiced form] when added to words ending in unvoiced consonants - for example as in ayak - foot - which becomes - ayakta - on the foot
In a similar fashion the suffix meaning - from - is -den or -dan will change to -ten or -tan - as in - ağaç - tree - which becomes - ağaçtan - from the tree.
Mutation of Word ending in Unvoiced Consonants
Note that the suffix reverts to its unvoiced form when added to words ending in an unvoiced consonant, this includes extended (suffixed) words.
| Examples of Suffixes changing to Unvoiced Form |
| kıtap - book |
kıtapta - in the book - (not kitap-da) |
| otobüs - bus |
otobüstü - it was a bus - (not otobüs-dü) |
| dolmuş - dolmush |
dolmuşta - in the dolmush - (not dolmuş-da) |
| ilaç - medicine |
ilaçta - in the medicine - (not ilaç-da) |
| sabah - morning |
sabahtan - from morning - (not sabah-dan) |
| kibrit - match |
kibritten - from the match - (not kibrit-den) |
 Note the last example kİbrİt which preserves a double letter -tt- when adding the suffix -ten to produce kİbrİtten.
Although Turkish generally abhors two consonants arising together we must realise that what we have here is two seperate words match and from being joined together - so each word must retain its full form.
A Very few Exceptions
Note: There are a few words that historically end in a voiced consonant, for these words that end in a voiced consonant - then the suffix retains its voiced form.
Mutation of words ending in Unvoiced Consonants
Here is an example of the effect of adding a suffix which begins with a consonant.
- kıtaptı - it was a book - word ends in unvoiced -p thus - kitap-tı (suffix -tı takes it unvoiced form from the noun ending.
The same example when adding a Suffix which begins witha Vowel
Note that the suffix reverts to its voiced form when added to words ending in an voiced consonant (this includes the plural -ler/-lar which ends in an voiced letter -r), or ending in a vowel - this also includes extended (already suffixed) words and plurals.
Words ending in an unvoiced consonant or a vowel - then the suffix is also in its unvoiced form
- kitabınız - your book suffx -iniz begins with a vowel so kitap beomes kitab-iniz
- kitabınızda - in your book - extended word ends in voiced -z thus - kitabınız-da
Some furher examples of Consonant Change
| Examples of Nouns changing to Voiced Form when adding suffixes beginning with a vowel or the Plural Suffix -lar/-ler |
| köpekten - from the dog |
köpeğinden - (köpeğ-in-den) - from his dog |
| ilaçta - in the medicine |
ilacında (ilac -ın-da) - in his medicine |
| otobüsten - from the bus |
otobüslerden - (otobüs-ler-den) - from the buses |
| sokaktan - from the street |
sokaklardan - (sokak-lar-dan) - from the streets |
Note the last two examples above where the voiced -r ending of the plural suffix -ler/-lar forces the subsequent suffix to take its voiced form.
Rules for Consonant Change
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The Rules for Consonant Mutation can be summed up:
- 1. If the word ends in an Unvoiced Consonant [p, ç, t, k] :
- When adding a suffix beginning with a vowel - this last letter of the root word changes to its voiced [b, c ,d, ğ] form:
- kilit - lock becomes kilidi - his lock
- köpek - dog becomes köpeğiniz - Your dog
- 2. If the word ends in an UnVoiced Consonant [p, ç, t, k]:
- When adding a suffix beginning with a consonant - then the suffix consonant changes to its UnVoiced Form [p, ç, t, k]:
- kilit - lock becomes kilitte - in the lock
- köpek - dog becomes köpekten - from the dog
- These are the Complete Rules of Consonant Mutation
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