A Description of the Phonological System of Delvari Dialect

Delvari phonological system includes 23 consonants and 9 vowels (6 simple vowels and 3 diphtongs) It has three syllables which have the cv(c) (c) forms. Voiced uvular stop /G/ (of Standard Persian), appears as /k/, /x/, and /γ/ sounds. The most important phonological processes are: A. Lenition: / f, v, b/ > [W]; /d/ > /δ/; /x/ > /h/ B. Fortion: /w/ > /b/; /f/ > /p/ in initial position of some pahlavi words C. Insertion of /t/ after final /š/ D. /r/> /L/ E. Deletion of final /n/ and /h/ F. Vowel alternations: /u/ > /i/; /ā/ > /u/; /a/ > /e/; /a, e/ > /ā/ G. Change of syllables /ā b/, /ab/, /af/ into /ow/ as the result of two phonological processes of lenition and assimilation H. Resyllabification of human proper.