The Pronunciation of hj- in Modern Faroese

Abstract

Faroese dispalys two different pronunciations of hj- in anlaut: [j] before the voiceless approximates [l] and [r] as in hjálpa ‘to help’, hjarta ‘heart’; [tʃ] elsewhere as in hjá ‘by, with’. This development from Old N orse [hj] comes via the intermediate stage [j], which later undergoes dissimilation of voice to [j] before voiceless approximates. A parallel development occurs in the N orn language of Orkney and Shetland, providing further evidence for a Faroese-Norn subgrouping of Insular Norse.