Sound: [l]

Signifying:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. form/type (rare): (of) converting, shifting
               2. (functionally) transitive, converting, transferring, trans­formative

Place of articulation: front of the tongue and the alveolar ridge

manner of articulation: lateral-approximant

voiced/voiceless: voiced

Our studies show that the early sounds were of semiotic values. Therefore, we use signify semiotically (instead of sign) for the sounds. The semiotic value of the lateral-approximant sound [l] is:

[formally/typically] (of) converting, trans- nature

(as action) trans-, convert

(functionally) transitive, converting, transferring, transformative

Points with the sound [l] in the phonetic/phonemic system:

1. There are specifically two alphabets which their graphic shapes are of semiotic value. Therefore, we can consider the graphic forms of the sound [l] in the Greek alphabet Lam[b]da and in the Abjad alphabet lam:

Greek lambda [l] Upper case: Λ and lower case: λ

Abjad lam [l]: ل

They are quite clearly semiotic icon signs signifying trans- and converting concepts.

2. Other than the mentioned functionality of the sound [l] in word formations in Türki language, its role and function as a converting or a shifting signification is obvious:

a. to change an active voice to a passive voice in the form of [vowel + l]

b. to convert a noun into a verb in the form of [l + vowel]

c. to convert an adjective into a verb in the form of [vowel + l]

3. The sound [l] is rare to come as the first sound in a word formation because it does not signify any form!

 

4. The sound [l] has had complexity with the sound [r] since the early phases of language and it is still possible to be found. This complexity is due to the significations they convey.

[l] trans-, shifting, converting

[r] active, dynamic

Because of the above functionalities with both sounds their coming at the beginning of a word is rare in Türki since they can’t signify a form.