Page:A simplified grammar of the Swedish language.djvu/25

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THE ALPHABET.
7

together with a slight secondary stress on a succeeding syllable. The latter occurs, therefore, only in polysyllables. The simple tone is the regular one in monosyllables." . . . . In accordance further with the same competent authority. . . . "Foreign words and many names of places have the simple tone." . . . . while "The definite suffix (article) does not count as part of the word, so that dǎgen, 'the day,' retains the simple tone of dǎg, 'day.'"

In words ending in eri, as bageri, 'bakehouse,' and in various words of foreign origin and termination, as natur, 'nature;' general, 'general;' juvel, 'jewel,' the tone is on the last syllable.

In compounds the tone may be said to be grave on the first, and acute on the second syllable; as, sōlskén, 'sunshine;' ūppfóstra, 'to bring up.'

Swedish, in conformity with its general affinity with the other northern representatives of the Old Gothic, adapts itself readily to the formation of compound words composed of various different parts of speech. In the modern system of spelling there is a tendency, however, to restrict this practice within more rational limits, more especially in regard to compound prepositions, adverbs and conjunctions, the component parts of which are now more and more frequently written separately; as, till freds, 'content,' i hjäl, 'dead;' instead of tillfreds, ihjäl.