Ll

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== Ll ==

Ll is a digraph in various languages, including Spanish, Welsh, and Catalan. It represents different sounds in these languages and has distinct historical and phonetic significance.

Spanish

In Spanish, the digraph ll was traditionally considered a separate letter of the alphabet, known as "elle." It represents the voiced palatal lateral approximant /ʎ/ in some dialects, though in many modern dialects, it is pronounced as a voiced palatal fricative /ʝ/ or even as a voiced postalveolar fricative /ʒ/. This phenomenon is known as yeísmo.

Welsh

In Welsh, ll represents a voiceless alveolar lateral fricative /ɬ/. It is a distinctive sound in the Welsh language and is used in many common words and names, such as "Llanelli" and "Llewelyn."

Catalan

In Catalan, the digraph ll represents the voiced palatal lateral approximant /ʎ/, similar to its traditional pronunciation in Spanish. It is used in words like "llengua" (language) and "llibre" (book).

Phonetic Evolution

The pronunciation of ll has evolved differently in various languages and dialects. In Spanish, the shift from /ʎ/ to /ʝ/ or /ʒ/ is a notable example of phonetic change over time. In Welsh, the sound /ɬ/ remains distinct and is an important feature of the language's phonology.

Orthographic Status

The status of ll as a separate letter has changed over time. In Spanish, it was considered a separate letter until 1994, when the Royal Spanish Academy decided to treat it as a digraph. In Welsh, it remains a distinct letter in the alphabet.

Related Pages

• Spanish language
• Welsh language
• Catalan language
• Yeísmo
• Voiced palatal lateral approximant
• Voiceless alveolar lateral fricative
• Royal Spanish Academy