↑Russian makes contrasts between palatalized ("soft") and unpalatalized ("hard") consonants. Palatalized consonants, denoted by a superscript j, ‹ ʲ› , are pronounced with the body of the tongue raised toward the hard palate, in a manner similar to the articulation of the y sound in yes. /j/, /ɕɕ/, /tɕ/, /ʑʑ/ are also considered "soft".
↑ 2.02.12.22.32.4In consonant clusters, the voicing or devoicing is determined by that of the final obstruent in the sequence (Halle 1959:31) harv error: no target: CITEREFHalle1959 (help)
↑ 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.7Voiced obstruents (/b/, /bʲ/, /d/, /dʲ/ /ɡ/, /v/, /vʲ/, /z/, /zʲ/, /ʐ/, and /ʑʑ/) are devoiced word-finally unless the next word begins with a voiced obstruent (Halle 1959:22) harv error: no target: CITEREFHalle1959 (help).
↑The "soft" vowel letters <е> <ю> and <я> represent a /j/ plus a vowel when initial or following other vowels or a yer. When such vowels are unstressed, the /j/ may be deleted.
↑While some speakers pronounce words with <щ> as [ɕɕ] and some as [ɕtɕ], none contrast the two pronunciations, even in words where this sound is spelled with other letters.
↑Intervocalic <г> can represent /v/ in certain words and affixes
↑ 8.08.1When /ɡ/ loses its voicing, it is also lenited
↑[ɑ] appears between a hard consonant (or a pause) and /l/