ABSTRACT
The most important of these alternations is that known as consonant gradation, which affects the long and short stops p, t and k. Section 15.1 below outlines the various types of alternation. Section 15.2 deals with the conditions determining the changes, and also presents some important rules. Sections 15.3-5 contain a great many examples to show how the rules are applied, and section 15.6 gives some special cases. The form to which the rules of consonant gradation are applied is called the ‘strong grade’, and the resulting alternative form is called the ‘weak grade’ (occasionally indicated by a ‘+’ prefixed to the word).
