753 



Liiujiiistic rcDiKrks. 



Every Dutcli word of one syllable, containing o and also sjllal)les 

 witli o, not occurring hy themselves hut with which influence from 

 other syllables can be safely excluded (e.g. lom(iiier)) were considered. 

 Combinations of sounds that can be pronounced quite well, but are 

 not found in the Dutch language, have been omitted. 



As regards the iidluence by the se\ eral consonants, a few facts 

 could be ascertained. 



The most con.slani influeiu-e is that of following nasals. In this 

 condiiiialion, namely, the o-souud occurs invariably. This can be 

 easily comprehended, as Ihe narrow m(Hilli-opening and weak current 

 of air passing through the nu)iitli, promote the air current Ihi-ough 

 the nose which follows. 



Another iutluence is that of llie lip-sounds; these promote the 

 producing of the o-soiind especially when preceding it. Also this 

 becomes clear if we consider the narrowness of the month-opening. 

 Guttural sounds like li, g, k. etc. are as a rule followed — and as 

 far as the\' can be final, also iireceded — bv o. This also holds 

 good, though in a less degree, for z, s, I, r, n and j ; n of course 

 only when preceding. I) and t have no clearly maiafested influence. 



The r occupies a position of its own ; its iidluence varies according 

 to the way in which it is |)ronounced, which is different even with 

 one and the same speaker al diU'erenl times, its place of articulation 

 varying between point of (he longue gums and root of the tongue- 

 uvula. Taking ibis iiiio consideralioii we can say that the advanced 

 r |)romoles the o, ihe retracted r llie o-sonnd, both whether preced- 

 ing or following Ihe \owel. 



From this it appears that the adjoining consoiumts either promote 

 the o or the o. 1| should be borne in nund, howev'er, tiiat the only 

 absolute iidluence is that of nasals as following sounds. The other 

 influences only work to a limited degree. The fad that the influence 

 of several sounds appears to be inconstant proves that there is 

 at least one factor more playing a part. This becomes evident 

 from the fact that several words, have either o or o according to 

 their meaning, e g. : 



bot (noun = flounder, eV bod (noun of bieden = to bid) 



lioiie ; adjective = blunt) 

 dol (adjective = mad) & dol (noun, part of a rowing- 



boat = thowl) 

 dorst (noun := thnrst) & dor.scht (from the verb dorschen 



= to thresh) 



