German pronunciation (dialect case study)

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To see how each letter is pronounced in this case study, cf. German dialect case study spelling.

Differences between High German and Rhine Franconian pronunciation:

• A consonant between two vowels is always voiced (softened). Thus:
  • CH [x] becomes something between CH and R [γ]
  • F [f] becomes something between F and V [f̬]
  • K [k] becomes G [g]
  • P [p] becomes B [b]
  • SS [s] becomes S [z]
  • SCH [ʃ] (English SH) becomes like the G in "Genie" (English S in "measure") [ʃ]
  • T [t] becomes D [d]
  • X [ks] is not changed
  • Z [ts] is not changed
• A long A becomes Å
• AU often becomes Â
• B becomes V
• The CH as in "ich" [ç] becomes [ʃ]
• E is dropped at the end of a word
• EN becomes E at the end of a word
• EU becomes AI
• G becomes CH at the end of a word. After E and I, it can become J. Sometimes it is just dropped behind a vowel.
• ND (sometimes also NT) often becomes N between vowels.
• Ö becomes Ë (short) or Ê (long)
• PF becomes B, at the beginning of a word P
• R is a uvular fricative (as in French), never trilled. It is not pronounced after a vowel.
• SP and ST are always pronounced [ʃb] and [ʃd] respectively.
• Ü and Y become I (short) or Î (long).

French words such as Kusseng (cousin) or Trotvar (trottoir) are stressed on the first syllable. This also applies to proper names such as Bohmaree (Beaumarais, a quarter of Saarlouis) or Laffonteen (Lafontaine, former state premier).
But the word avai (now) is stressed on the last syllable.

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