Sh (digraph)
Sh is a digraph in the Latin script, consisting of the letters S and H. It is used in various languages to represent a specific sound, typically the voiceless postalveolar fricative /ʃ/, similar to the "sh" sound in the English word "ship".
Usage in Different Languages[edit | edit source]
English[edit | edit source]
In English, the digraph "sh" is commonly used to represent the /ʃ/ sound. It appears in many words, such as "ship," "shut," and "fish." The digraph is an essential part of English orthography and is taught early in literacy education.
Albanian[edit | edit source]
In the Albanian language, "sh" represents the same /ʃ/ sound. It is considered a separate letter in the Albanian alphabet and is alphabetized between "s" and "t."
Romanian[edit | edit source]
In the Romanian language, "sh" is not a native digraph but can appear in loanwords and foreign names.
Irish[edit | edit source]
In the Irish language, "sh" is used in the initial position to indicate lenition of "s," changing the sound from /s/ to /h/.
Turkish[edit | edit source]
In the Turkish language, the digraph "sh" is not used. Instead, the sound /ʃ/ is represented by the letter "ş."
Other Languages[edit | edit source]
The digraph "sh" is also used in various other languages, including Welsh, Basque, and Esperanto, each with its specific phonetic and orthographic rules.
Phonetic Representation[edit | edit source]
The sound represented by "sh" is the voiceless postalveolar fricative, which is a common sound in many languages. In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), this sound is denoted by the symbol /ʃ/.
Historical Development[edit | edit source]
The digraph "sh" has its origins in the Old English period, where it was used to represent the /ʃ/ sound. Over time, it became standardized in Middle English and has remained a consistent part of English orthography.
Related Digraphs and Trigraphs[edit | edit source]
Other digraphs and trigraphs that represent similar sounds include:
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Digraph (orthography)
- Voiceless postalveolar fricative
- Latin alphabet
- English orthography
- Albanian alphabet
- International Phonetic Alphabet
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
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