The softening of consonants in Islandish is caused by a j following a so-called hard consonant.
Double hard consonants are g, h, k.
Simple hard consonants are: c, l, m, n, s, t, z.
b, d, f, j, m, p, r, v are called unchangeable.
The remaining consonants are called soft consonants.
Double hard consonants g, h, k can be softened in two ways:
double hard consonant | simple softening | double softening |
|---|---|---|
g | z | ž |
k | c | č |
h | s | š |
I.e., by simple softening the double hard consonant is turned into a simple hard consonant. Double softening turns the consonant into a soft consonant.
If a suffix triggers double softening, it is marked in the grammar with a double jj.
Eg. lok + ji = loci, lok + jje = loče.
Simple hard consonants are softened only in the following way:
hard consonant | softened consonant |
|---|---|
c | č |
l | ľ |
m | mň |
n | ň |
s | š |
t | č |
z | ž |
A softening suffix causes a hard consonant to change and the j/jj at the beginning of that suffix disappears. If the preceding consonant is soft, the j/jj disappears without effect. If the consonant is unchangeable (b, d, f, j, p, r, v), the j is preserved (jj as a single consonant j) in the suffix.
Eg.
véd + ji = védji, véd + jje = védje,
lok + ji = loci, lok + jje = loče,
kaž + ji = kaži, kaž + jje = kaže
Softening of consonant clusters
If a consonant cluster ends with a hard consonant and the softening causes this hard consonant to turn into a soft consonant, then a preceding simple hard consonant is also softened (not a double hard consonant!). If the result is a double consonant, then it is simplified.
Most notably, the following softenings take place:
consonant cluster | softened consonant cluster |
|---|---|
st | šč |
sk | šč |
tk | č |
But: hk > hč, kt > kč, etc.