Croatian grammar #015
Iotation (Jotacija)
Firstly, just to avoid possible confusion ........ Some grammar books use the term iotation, and some use iotization. I will go with iotation.
As far as I understand, the concept of iotation is a first cousin of sibilarization and palatalization: certain combinations of adjacent letters have been replaced. In iotation, some letters and a following -j in words have been replaced over time by a single letter of the Croatian alphabet.
I have come to the conclusion that I don’t need to be able to understand the specific evolution, by iotation, of current words: It’s easier to just get on and learn the words.
Nevertheless, 'iotated' words have caused me confusion and energy (and tested the patience of my teachers!), and it interesting to have an overview of the concept.
As far as I understand, the concept of iotation is a first cousin of sibilarization and palatalization: certain combinations of adjacent letters have been replaced. In iotation, some letters and a following -j in words have been replaced over time by a single letter of the Croatian alphabet.
I have come to the conclusion that I don’t need to be able to understand the specific evolution, by iotation, of current words: It’s easier to just get on and learn the words.
Nevertheless, 'iotated' words have caused me confusion and energy (and tested the patience of my teachers!), and it interesting to have an overview of the concept.
The puzzle
Who hasn’t been confused that the verb pisati (to write) conjugates as
ja napišem, ti napišeš, on napiše, mi napišemo, vi napišate, oni napišu
especially since in the past tense, we have
ja sam napisao, ja sam napisala, ………. vi ste napisali
So why does the present tense have -š: it is in neither the infinitive, nor the past tense? Where did it come from?
Who hasn’t been confused that the verb pisati (to write) conjugates as
ja napišem, ti napišeš, on napiše, mi napišemo, vi napišate, oni napišu
especially since in the past tense, we have
ja sam napisao, ja sam napisala, ………. vi ste napisali
So why does the present tense have -š: it is in neither the infinitive, nor the past tense? Where did it come from?
And the verb kretati conjugates as
ja krećem, ti krećeš, …….
although the past tense is
ja sam kretao, ona je kretala, …….. vi ste kretali
Why the -ć in the present tense of the verb? Where did it come from?
ja krećem, ti krećeš, …….
although the past tense is
ja sam kretao, ona je kretala, …….. vi ste kretali
Why the -ć in the present tense of the verb? Where did it come from?
Here’s another mystery. Just for example …..
The comparative forms of the adjective (weak)
slab/slaba/slabe/slabi/slabe/slaba
are slabiji/slabija/slabije/slabiji/slabije/slabija
Just as the textbooks say, we insert the infix -ij. No probs.
The comparative forms of the adjective (weak)
slab/slaba/slabe/slabi/slabe/slaba
are slabiji/slabija/slabije/slabiji/slabije/slabija
Just as the textbooks say, we insert the infix -ij. No probs.
Similarly, we have the adjective
zanimljiv/zanimljiva/zanimljivo/zanimljivi/zanimljive/zanimljiva
and, as per the textbook rule, the comparative forms (more interesting) are
zanimljiviji/zanimljivija/zanimljivijo/zanimljiviji/zanimljivije/zanimljivija
zanimljiv/zanimljiva/zanimljivo/zanimljivi/zanimljive/zanimljiva
and, as per the textbook rule, the comparative forms (more interesting) are
zanimljiviji/zanimljivija/zanimljivijo/zanimljiviji/zanimljivije/zanimljivija
BUT, for the adjective
dug/duga/dugo/dugi/duge/duga
The comparative forms (longer) are
duži, duža, duže/duži/duže/duža
Why the -ž?
dug/duga/dugo/dugi/duge/duga
The comparative forms (longer) are
duži, duža, duže/duži/duže/duža
Why the -ž?
There are hundreds of other examples that are surprising to the novice. Ah, learning Croatian ….
An answer (sort of)
Most grammar books that I have consulted attribute this to just one word: jotacija (iotation)
For example, this means that if a word would have a g before a j, the gj combination is replaced by ž.
Most grammar books that I have consulted attribute this to just one word: jotacija (iotation)
For example, this means that if a word would have a g before a j, the gj combination is replaced by ž.
Strictly speaking, that leaves us with a problem (not worth losing sleep over).
The Croatian word for the adjective long (female) is duga.
Applying the general rule for forming comparative adjectives, longer would become dugija
With jotacija, this has evolved to duža.
Okay, but means a replacement of gij to ž (and not gj to ž)
Well, we (of all people!) know that language evolution doesn’t follow strict rules.
The Croatian word for the adjective long (female) is duga.
Applying the general rule for forming comparative adjectives, longer would become dugija
With jotacija, this has evolved to duža.
Okay, but means a replacement of gij to ž (and not gj to ž)
Well, we (of all people!) know that language evolution doesn’t follow strict rules.
Let’s move on to verbs.
From the infinitive napisati (to write) we have ja napišem (I write).
Grammar books attribute this to another variety of jotacija: sj evolves into š.
Oh yeah, where is the sj that is replaced?
I suspect, and I have seen evidence, that a very old form of the first person singular was napisjem.
If that is the case, now we are on to something: iotation of sj to š gives us napišem.
I acknowledge that I am way out of my depth, and full of speculation.
From the infinitive napisati (to write) we have ja napišem (I write).
Grammar books attribute this to another variety of jotacija: sj evolves into š.
Oh yeah, where is the sj that is replaced?
I suspect, and I have seen evidence, that a very old form of the first person singular was napisjem.
If that is the case, now we are on to something: iotation of sj to š gives us napišem.
I acknowledge that I am way out of my depth, and full of speculation.
The specifics of jotacija
Jotacija is the evolution of words that contain one of the non-palatals k, g, h, c, t, d, s, z, l, n before j. Evolution is to the palatals č, ž, š, ć, đ, š, ž, lj , nj, respectively.
Let’s display these individually …
Jotacija is the evolution of words that contain one of the non-palatals k, g, h, c, t, d, s, z, l, n before j. Evolution is to the palatals č, ž, š, ć, đ, š, ž, lj , nj, respectively.
Let’s display these individually …
- kj → č
- gj → ž
- hj → š
- cj → ć
- dj → đ
- sj → š (same as from hj)
- zj → ž (same as from gj)
- lj → lj (the ‘new’ lj is one letter in the Croatian alphabet)
- nj → nj (the ‘new’ nj is one letter in the Croatian alphabet)
Examples
There is no need for me to give examples that are displayed elsewhere. Go to the appropriate pages of Hrvatska Školska Gramatika or Wikipedija.
I don’t think the explanations are very clear.
There is no need for me to give examples that are displayed elsewhere. Go to the appropriate pages of Hrvatska Školska Gramatika or Wikipedija.
I don’t think the explanations are very clear.
And finally .....
If, like me, you are just interested in learning Croatian to a conversational level, we could ignore this page and just learn our vocabulary.
If you are a budding linguist, dig deeper.
If, like me, you are just interested in learning Croatian to a conversational level, we could ignore this page and just learn our vocabulary.
If you are a budding linguist, dig deeper.
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