In the previous examples illustrating the softening of consonants, the initial й sound of the soft vowels - я, ё, е, and ю - was lost. There is, however, a way of keeping the sound of the soft vowels. It is done by means fo two signs, one of which is already familiar to you - the soft sign [ь].
The letter ь acts not only as a soft sign, softening the sound of a consonant that precedes it, but also as a separation sign. In the latter capacity, it serves to separate the sound of a soft consonant from the sound of the vowel that follows it. As a result of the separation, the initial й sound of the vowel is preserved. However, there should be no pause whatsoever between the sound of the consonant and the sound of the vowel.
The Letter ь as a Separation Sign
When the soft sign [ь] comes between a consonant and a vowel, you soften the consonant but keep the й sound of the vowel.
пью [p'yoo] (I) am drinking
So remember, whenever you see a soft sign between a consonant and a vowel, soften the consonant and say й before the vowel.
судья [sood'-yah] judge
друзья [drooz-yah] friends
барьер [buhr-yehr] barrier
To make sure you can recognize the difference the soft sign makes between a consonant and a vowel, repeat the following sets of words. Notice how the й sound is retained.
хотя [khuh-t'ah] though and статья [stuht'-yah] article
полёт [puh-l'awt] flight and льёт [l'yawt] (he) pours
The Letter ъ (Hard Sign)
To keep the sound without softening the preceding consonant, however, another sign is used - the hard sign [ъ].
The hard sign is another special Russian letter which, like the soft sign, has no sound. The hard sign never begins a word but always falls between a consonant and a vowel. Its function is as follows:
When the hard sign comes between a consonant and a vowel, you keep the consonant hard, and also keep the true sound of a vowel.
объект [uhb'-yehkt] object
подъём [puhd'-yawm] ascent
To make sure you can recognize the difference a hard sign makes when it comes before a vowel, repeat the following sets of words.
сесть [s'ehst'] to sit down and съесть [s'yehst'] to eat
сёмга [s'awm-guh] salmon and съёмка [s'yawm-kuh] survey
обнять [uhb-n'aht'] to embrace and объять [uhb'-yaht'] to fill, to envelop
The letter ь acts not only as a soft sign, softening the sound of a consonant that precedes it, but also as a separation sign. In the latter capacity, it serves to separate the sound of a soft consonant from the sound of the vowel that follows it. As a result of the separation, the initial й sound of the vowel is preserved. However, there should be no pause whatsoever between the sound of the consonant and the sound of the vowel.
The Letter ь as a Separation Sign
When the soft sign [ь] comes between a consonant and a vowel, you soften the consonant but keep the й sound of the vowel.
пью [p'yoo] (I) am drinking
So remember, whenever you see a soft sign between a consonant and a vowel, soften the consonant and say й before the vowel.
судья [sood'-yah] judge
друзья [drooz-yah] friends
барьер [buhr-yehr] barrier
To make sure you can recognize the difference the soft sign makes between a consonant and a vowel, repeat the following sets of words. Notice how the й sound is retained.
хотя [khuh-t'ah] though and статья [stuht'-yah] article
полёт [puh-l'awt] flight and льёт [l'yawt] (he) pours
The Letter ъ (Hard Sign)
To keep the sound without softening the preceding consonant, however, another sign is used - the hard sign [ъ].
The hard sign is another special Russian letter which, like the soft sign, has no sound. The hard sign never begins a word but always falls between a consonant and a vowel. Its function is as follows:
When the hard sign comes between a consonant and a vowel, you keep the consonant hard, and also keep the true sound of a vowel.
объект [uhb'-yehkt] object
подъём [puhd'-yawm] ascent
To make sure you can recognize the difference a hard sign makes when it comes before a vowel, repeat the following sets of words.
сесть [s'ehst'] to sit down and съесть [s'yehst'] to eat
сёмга [s'awm-guh] salmon and съёмка [s'yawm-kuh] survey
обнять [uhb-n'aht'] to embrace and объять [uhb'-yaht'] to fill, to envelop
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