Explanation of Grapheme Pronunciation
Grapheme | Phoneme | Explanation |
<u>, <v> | /u/, /v/ ([β])
(used interchangeably) |
The graphemes <u> and <v> in Latin are used relatively similarly, and this trend continued in Old Spanish. The allophone [β] was beginning to be used in place of /v/, and this occurs in some instances (usually intervocalically). |
<b> | /b/, [β] | The allophone [β] was beginning to be used in place of /b/, and this occurs in some instances (usually intervocalically). |
<xp> | /kr/ | The word <xpistianos> was pronounced [kristianos]. This seems to be the only instance of this spelling, and it’s unclear why the spelling changed as the word was <christianus> in Latin and <cristianos> in Modern Spanish. |
<y> | /j/, /i/ | The grapheme <y> usually represents the phoneme /j/, however in certain cases it stands as a replacement for <i> /i/. |
<ç> | /ts/ | The grapheme <ç> represents /ts/, which later became /θ/ or /s/ |
<qu> | /kw/ | The Old Spanish <qu> is still pronounced like the Latin. In Modern Spanish, most of these words are either spelled <cu> or pronounced /k/ |
<i> | /i/, /j/ | Usually, <i> is pronounced /i/, but in certain cases it is pronounced as the yod /j/. |
<ue> | /we/ | The diphthong <ue> is pronounced /we/. |
<ui>, <uy> | /wi/ | The diphthong <ui> or <uy> is pronounced /wi/ (like in Latin) |
<ll> | /ʎ/ | The grapheme <ll> in Old Spanish is pronounced /ʎ/, then becomes /j/ in Modern Spanish. |
<ge>, <x> | /ʒ/ | The graphemes <ge> and <x> are both pronounced /ʒ/, before they become /h/ in Modern Spanish. |
<z> | /s/ | The grapheme <z> is pronounced /s/ in Old Spanish. |
<h> | /h/ | The grapheme <h> was still pronounced /h/. In Modern Spanish, the grapheme <h> is silent. |