Eifeler Regel
Encyclopedia
The Eifeler Regel is a phenomenon which was originally documented in the linguistics
of the late 19th century for the dialects of the Eifel
region in the far west of Germany
, hence the name,
but it pertains in varying extents to a number of Central German
languages from the West
, such as Luxembourgish, Colognian, or Hessian
, to the East
, such as Main Franconian, and some other East Franconian varieties.
The rule describes a phonological process
in the languages which causes the deletion
of final [n] in certain contexts. It varies somewhat between languages and varieties. Also its reflection in spellings differs.
and its effects are indicated in the standard orthography. Final ‹n› or ‹nn› are often lost when followed by another consonant, but not if this consonant is ‹n›, ‹d›, ‹t›, ‹z›, or ‹h›. Compare the following examples involving the definite article den ("the"):
The Eifeler Rule does not apply to some classes of words, such as proper names or loanwords ending in ‹n›. It applies regularly to verbs and function words like pronouns and prepositions, but most nouns and adjectives do not lose their final ‹n›.
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
of the late 19th century for the dialects of the Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
region in the far west of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, hence the name,
but it pertains in varying extents to a number of Central German
Central German
Central German is a group of High German dialects spoken from the Rhineland in the west to the former eastern territories of Germany.-History:...
languages from the West
West Central German
West Central German belongs to the Central, High German dialect family in the German language. Its dialects are thoroughly Franconian including the following sub-families:* Central Franconian...
, such as Luxembourgish, Colognian, or Hessian
Hessian
The Hessians were 18-century German regiments hired through their rulers by the British Empire. Despite their name, they were not all from Hesse. They were not mercenaries, although their German rulers profited from their use. Though used in several conflicts including in Ireland, they are most...
, to the East
East Central German
East Central German is the non-Franconian sub-group of Central German dialects, themselves part of High German. It comprises:*Standard German*Thuringian*Upper Saxon German*Lausitzisch-Neumärkisch, whose best-known form is the Berlinerisch dialect...
, such as Main Franconian, and some other East Franconian varieties.
The rule describes a phonological process
Phonology
Phonology is, broadly speaking, the subdiscipline of linguistics concerned with the sounds of language. That is, it is the systematic use of sound to encode meaning in any spoken human language, or the field of linguistics studying this use...
in the languages which causes the deletion
Elision
Elision is the omission of one or more sounds in a word or phrase, producing a result that is easier for the speaker to pronounce...
of final [n] in certain contexts. It varies somewhat between languages and varieties. Also its reflection in spellings differs.
Luxembourgish
The Eifel Rule is pervasive in LuxembourgishLuxembourgish language
Luxembourgish is a High German language spoken mainly in Luxembourg. About 320,000 people worldwide speak Luxembourgish.-Language family:...
and its effects are indicated in the standard orthography. Final ‹n› or ‹nn› are often lost when followed by another consonant, but not if this consonant is ‹n›, ‹d›, ‹t›, ‹z›, or ‹h›. Compare the following examples involving the definite article den ("the"):
- den Apel ("the apple"), den Tuerm ("the tower"), but de Ball ("the ball")
The Eifeler Rule does not apply to some classes of words, such as proper names or loanwords ending in ‹n›. It applies regularly to verbs and function words like pronouns and prepositions, but most nouns and adjectives do not lose their final ‹n›.