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Sz (digraph)
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Sz is a digraph of the Latin script, used in Hungarian, Kashubian and Polish.[1] It is also used to represent syllables in various romanizations of Mandarin and the Hong Kong government romanization of Cantonese.
Hungarian
[edit]Sz is the thirty-second letter of the Hungarian alphabet. It represents /s/ and is called "esz" /ɛs/. Thus, names like Liszt are pronounced /list/ list.
In Hungarian, even if two characters are put together to make a different sound, they are considered one letter (a true digraph), and even acronyms keep the letter intact.
Hungarian usage of s and sz is almost the reverse of the Polish usage. In Hungarian, s represents /ʃ/. For example, the Hungarian capital of Budapest is natively pronounced (/ˈbudɒpɛʃt/).
There is also a zs in Hungarian, which is the last (forty-fourth) letter of the alphabet, following z.
Examples
[edit]These examples are Hungarian words that use the letter sz, with the English translation following:
- szabó = tailor
- szép = beautiful
- szikla = rock
- szőke = blonde
- szülő = parent
- szusi = sushi
- Olaszország = Italy
- Szudán = Sudan
Kashubian
[edit]In Kashubian, sz represents a voiceless postalveolar fricative /ʃ/, identical to the English "sh". It corresponds to the voiceless retroflex fricative /ʂ/ in Polish.
Examples
[edit]- These examples are Kashubian words that use the letter sz, with the English translation following.
- szãtopiérz = bat (animal)
- szczawa = sorrel
- szczãka = jaw
- szczëka = pike (fish type)
- szerszéń = hornet
Polish
[edit]In Polish orthography, sz represents a voiceless retroflex fricative /ʂ/. It usually corresponds to š or ш in other Slavic languages. It is usually approximated by English speakers with the "sh" (IPA: /ʃ/) sound[1]: vi (and conversely, Polish speakers typically approximate the English digraph sh with the "sz" sound), although the two sounds are not completely identical.
Like other Polish digraphs, it is not considered a single letter for collation purposes.
sz should not be confused with ś (or s followed by i), termed "soft sh", a voiceless alveolo-palatal fricative /ɕ/.
Examples
[edit]Standard Mandarin
[edit]In Chinese, both the Yale romanization of Mandarin and Mandarin Phonetic Symbols II use the digraph sz to represent the syllable /sɨ/ (pinyin: si; Wade–Giles: ssŭ).
Cantonese
[edit]In the unpublished romanisation scheme employed by the Hong Kong government, sz is sometimes used in combination with e to represent the syllable /siː/, as in Sheung Sze Wan /sœːŋ˥.siː˥.waːn˥/ (Sēung Sī Wāan in Yale romanization).
Sz also appears in the sequence tsz, representing the syllables /t͡siː/ and /t͡sʰiː/, as in Tsz Tin Tsuen /t͡siː˧˥.tʰiːn˨˩.t͡sʰyːn˥/ and Tsz Wan Shan /t͡sʰiː˨˩.wɐn˨˩.saːn˥/ (Jí Tìhn Chyūn and Chìh Wàhn Sāan respectively in Yale romanization).
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Sz (digraph)
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Overview
Definition
The sz digraph is a two-letter combination in the Latin script, consisting of the consecutive letters s and z, which together function as a single orthographic unit to represent specific consonant sounds in various languages. Unlike standalone letters s or z, which denote simpler alveolar fricatives, sz is treated as an indivisible element in the alphabet, similar to other digraphs but distinct in its composition and application. This digraph emerged as a practical solution within the constraints of the basic Latin alphabet, which lacked dedicated symbols for certain phonemes in non-Latin languages.[7] Historically, the sz digraph traces its origins to adaptations of the Latin script in Central European linguistic contexts during the 16th century, a period of orthographic experimentation to accommodate sibilant sounds not present in classical Latin. Printers and scholars in the 16th century, such as Hieronymus Vietor in Polish texts and János Sylvester in Hungarian works, played key roles in standardizing its use through printed materials, drawing on earlier scribal practices influenced by regional Germanic and Slavic traditions. These adaptations allowed for the representation of complex sibilant inventories in emerging vernacular orthographies, evolving from ad hoc combinations to consistent graphemes.[7] The primary function of sz is to denote sibilant consonants—typically fricative sounds produced with a hissing quality—where the single letters s or z alone proved insufficient to capture the required phonemic distinctions. It differs from digraphs like English sh (a combination of s and h for a postalveolar fricative) or the German ß (a ligature historically derived from an sz-like form but now a distinct character for a voiceless sibilant). While its phonetic realization varies across languages, sz consistently serves to extend the expressive capacity of the Latin script for sibilant articulation.Phonetic realizations
The sz digraph primarily represents voiceless sibilant fricatives in various orthographies, with realizations including the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/, the voiceless postalveolar fricative /ʃ/, and the voiceless retroflex sibilant /ʂ/.[8][9][10] These sounds are all non-nasal continuants produced with a grooved tongue and turbulent airflow, but differ in place of articulation: /s/ involves the tongue tip or blade contacting or approaching the alveolar ridge behind the upper teeth; /ʃ/ shifts the tongue body further back toward the hard palate for a more diffuse hiss; and /ʂ/ features retroflexion, with the tongue tip curling upward and backward toward the rear of the hard palate.[8][9][11] In orthographic systems without single letters for postalveolar or retroflex sibilants (such as š or ş), sz serves to denote these sounds, bridging gaps in the basic Latin alphabet for languages with expanded sibilant inventories.[12] This usage allows consistent representation of phonemic contrasts that would otherwise require diacritics or alternative digraphs. In romanization systems like Wade–Giles for Mandarin Chinese, sz occasionally appears in non-phonemic contexts, such as marking alveolar /s/ in vowel-less syllables (e.g., szŭ for /sɨ/), to distinguish syllabic structure rather than introducing new phonemes.[13]Polish
Pronunciation
In Polish orthography, the digraph ⟨sz⟩ represents the voiceless retroflex sibilant phoneme /ʂ/, which is similar to but more retracted than the English "sh" sound (/ʃ/) in "ship." This contrasts with ⟨ś⟩ (or ⟨si⟩ before vowels), which denotes the voiceless alveolo-palatal sibilant /ɕ/, a palatalized variant. Polish features a complex sibilant system with oppositions among /s/, /z/, /ʂ/, /ʐ/, /ɕ/, and /ʑ/, and ⟨sz⟩ is integral to distinguishing these phonemes for clarity in words rich in sibilants.[14] The digraph ⟨sz⟩ was standardized during the 16th-century reforms of Polish orthography, which adapted the Latin script to Slavic phonology without relying heavily on diacritics for sibilants. This development, influenced by printing and linguistic works of the period, ensured phonemic accuracy, as seen in early texts like those by Jan Seklucjan and others promoting consistent digraph usage.[15]Examples
The ⟨sz⟩ digraph occurs frequently in Polish vocabulary, always rendering /ʂ/. For instance, szkoła ("school," pronounced /ˈʂkɔ.wa/) uses ⟨sz⟩ initially in a common word. Similarly, szary ("gray," /ˈʂa.rɨ/) and szukać ("to search," /ˈʂu.kat͡ɕ/) demonstrate its role in roots and verbs. To illustrate contrasts, consider the minimal pair masz ("you have," /maʂ/) versus masa ("mass," /ˈma.sa/), where ⟨sz⟩ versus ⟨s⟩ changes the meaning. For distinction from ⟨ś⟩, szlak ("trail," /ʂlak/) differs from ślad ("trace," /ɕlat/), highlighting the retroflex versus alveolo-palatal articulation. In clusters, ⟨sz⟩ appears stably, as in szczęście ("happiness," /ˈʂt͡ʂɛ̃ɲt͡ɕɛ/), integrating with affricates without altering its realization. These examples underscore ⟨sz⟩'s prevalence in native words, loanwords, and derivations, supporting Polish's precise sibilant encoding.[14]Kashubian
Pronunciation
In Kashubian orthography, the digraph ⟨sz⟩ represents the voiceless palato-alveolar fricative /ʃ/, akin to the "sh" sound in English "ship". This realization is more palatalized than the Polish retroflex /ʂ/ and remains distinct in Kashubian dialects that avoid the sibilant merger known as mazurzenie.[1] The standardized orthography, established in 1996 based on earlier proposals from 1973, uses ⟨sz⟩ alongside digraphs like ⟨cz⟩ (/tʃ/) and ⟨ż⟩ (/ʒ/) to encode Kashubian's West Slavic phonology, which features a rich sibilant inventory without the retroflex series of standard Polish.[16] This system derives from Polish traditions but adapts to Kashubian's phonetic profile, including palatalized sibilants, ensuring clarity in a language with significant German and Polish influences.Examples
The ⟨sz⟩ digraph is common in Kashubian vocabulary, consistently rendering /ʃ/ as outlined in the pronunciation subsection. For instance, szkòła [ʃkɔwa] means "school", where ⟨sz⟩ initiates the word with the palato-alveolar fricative, followed by the velar stop /k/ and open-mid back vowel /ɔ/. Another example is szpik [ʃpik] "marrow", demonstrating ⟨sz⟩ in onset position before a bilabial stop. Similarly, szum [ʃum] "noise" or "hum" uses ⟨sz⟩ to convey the sibilant before the bilabial nasal /m/. To illustrate contrasts within the sibilant system, compare szkòła (/ʃkɔwa/, "school") with skòła (hypothetical, using /sk/ for alveolar /s/), highlighting how ⟨sz⟩ distinguishes the palato-alveolar phoneme. In clusters, ⟨sz⟩ appears stably, as in wësz [vɛʃ] "to carry", maintaining /ʃ/ without assimilation. Overall, ⟨sz⟩ is integral to native roots, affixes, and loanwords, supporting Kashubian's regional identity in northern Poland.Hungarian
Pronunciation
In Hungarian orthography, the digraph sz consistently represents the voiceless alveolar fricative phoneme /s/, equivalent to the "s" sound in English words like "see". This phonetic value is denoted in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as and remains uniform across all Hungarian dialects, without variation in realization.[4] A key feature of the Hungarian sibilant system is the reversal of expectations compared to many Indo-European languages: the single letter s denotes the voiceless postalveolar fricative /ʃ/ (as in English "she"), while sz is reserved for the plain alveolar /s/. This distinction ensures phonemic clarity in a language with a rich inventory of sibilants inherited from its Uralic roots. The sz digraph was adopted during 16th-century orthographic reforms, primarily through the efforts of printer and linguist János Sylvester, to systematically differentiate sibilants in printed Hungarian texts. In works such as his Grammatica Hungarolatina (1539) and the New Testament translation (1541), Sylvester introduced sz as a standard notation for /s/, replacing earlier inconsistent variants like ß or sɔ, and it quickly became entrenched in subsequent publications like the Vizsoly Bible (1590). This reform addressed the limitations of the Latin alphabet for encoding Uralic phonology, promoting a phonemic writing system where sz is used invariably, including in loanwords, without undergoing palatalization or other assimilatory changes.[3]Examples
The sz digraph appears in many everyday Hungarian words, representing the /s/ sound as described in the pronunciation section. For instance, szia [si.jɒ], an informal greeting meaning "hi," uses sz at the onset to produce the voiceless alveolar sibilant. Similarly, szekrény [ˈsɛkreːɲ] denotes a "wardrobe" or "cupboard," where sz initiates the word with /s/, followed by the front rounded vowel /ɛ/. Another common example is szőlő [ˈsøːløː] "grape," featuring sz in initial position and long front rounded vowels that align with Hungarian vowel harmony.[17] To highlight the distinction between sz (/s/) and single s (/ʃ/), consider the minimal pair szörny [sørɲ] "monster" and sör [ʃør] "beer," where the initial consonant alone differentiates the meanings while sharing the same vowel and following nasal. This contrast underscores the orthographic reversal in Hungarian sibilants, essential for accurate comprehension. In consonant clusters, sz integrates seamlessly, as in asztal [ɒstɒl] "table," where it precedes /t/ without altering the /s/ realization, demonstrating its stability in onset positions. Rare occurrences like ksz appear in loanwords or compounds, such as adaptations of foreign terms, but sz remains prevalent for /s/ in both native vocabulary and borrowings. Overall, sz is ubiquitous across the lexicon, occurring frequently in roots and affixes to convey the /s/ phoneme reliably.Romanization of Chinese
In Mandarin systems
In Mandarin romanization systems, the digraph sz is employed in non-official schemes to represent the alveolar sibilant initial /s/ combined with the high central unrounded vowel [ɨ], forming the syllable /sɨ/ (corresponding to Pinyin sī and Wade-Giles ssŭ).[18][19] This usage distinguishes the retroflex or neutral vowel [ɨ]—a sound unique to certain Mandarin syllables—from the front high vowel found in other instances of si, thereby reducing ambiguity for learners unfamiliar with the phonological distinctions in Standard Mandarin.[20] The Yale romanization system, developed in 1943 by linguist George A. Kennedy at Yale University primarily for American military and academic instruction during World War II, adopted sz to facilitate intuitive pronunciation for English speakers by avoiding the reuse of single letters like i for multiple vowel qualities.[21] Similarly, Mandarin Phonetic Symbols II (MPS II), officially promulgated by Taiwan's Ministry of Education in 1986 as a simplified alternative to the complex Gwoyeu Romatzyh system, incorporates sz for the same purpose, drawing on mid-20th-century efforts to create Latin-script transliterations that align closely with phonetic realities while supporting tonal notation through diacritics.[22] These systems emerged in the post-1940s era amid broader global interest in Mandarin education, aiming to bridge gaps in Latin alphabet representation for non-native speakers without relying on diacritics for core phonemes.[21][22] Unlike the official Hanyu Pinyin system, which standardizes the syllable as si and relies on contextual or orthographic conventions to imply [ɨ], sz remains confined to pedagogical and scholarly applications, particularly in Taiwanese materials for MPS II and older U.S.-based Yale textbooks.[18][19] In phonetic terms, the digraph denotes the structure [sɨ], where the initial is a voiceless alveolar fricative followed by the close central unrounded vowel [ɨ], as in the isolated syllable sz (e.g., representing the pronunciation of characters like 斯 or 四 in isolation).[20] This targeted representation underscores the mid-20th-century focus on precision in romanization for linguistic analysis and language acquisition in academic settings.[21]In Cantonese systems
In Cantonese romanization systems developed during the 19th and early 20th centuries by missionaries and colonial administrators, the digraph "sz" was employed to represent the alveolar sibilant /s/ followed by an apical vowel, particularly [ɿ], in syllables where modern pronunciations have shifted to diphthongs like [eɪ]. This usage originated in Samuel Wells Williams' 1856 tonic dictionary for the Canton dialect, where "sz" denotes such combinations to capture the phonology of the era, as seen in the romanization of "four" (四) simply as "sz".[23][24] The Standard Romanization scheme, formulated by Christian missionaries in southern China in 1888, similarly adopted "sz" for these historical apical vowel contexts, again romanizing "four" as "sz" to reflect the then-prevalent [sɿ] pronunciation before sound changes merged it into broader sibilant-vowel patterns.[24] This approach influenced the unpublished Hong Kong Government Romanization system introduced in 1899, which retained "sz" for [sɿ] in initial positions, such as in "tsz" [tsɿ] or standalone "sz", and occasionally combined it with "e" (as "sz-e") to approximate lengthened /seː/ in official transliterations for place names and documents.[24] These older systems, rooted in colonial-era adaptations for missionary work and administration, contrast with contemporary schemes like Jyutping, which standardizes the initial as a single "s" without digraphs, rendering "four" as "sei3" to align with modern Guangzhou Cantonese phonetics where the apical distinction has largely vanished.[24] Today, "sz" appears primarily in historical texts, legacy official names in Hong Kong, and specialized linguistic references rather than everyday romanization.[24]References
- https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sz%C5%91l%C5%91