تعريف ومعنى "rendaku"

What is "rendaku"?

Rendaku is a phonological phenomenon in the Japanese language where the initial consonant of the second element in a compound word becomes voiced. This typically occurs when two morphemes are combined to form a new word. For example, in the compound word "tehon" (handbook), the second part "hon" starts with a voiceless consonant /h/, which changes to a voiced /b/ when combined, resulting in "tebony." Rendaku is important in Japanese phonology because it helps clarify word structure and meaning, and it demonstrates how sounds can change in specific linguistic contexts to enhance fluency and ease of pronunciation.