possible because this consonant cannot occur singly (as quantity 1). llj ~ lj Sequences of two : both grades are indicated identically. The strong grade can be distinguished with an overlength mark in reference works. nˈnj ~ nnj Sequences of two voiceless sonorants: both grades are indicated identically. The strong grade can be distinguished with an overlength mark in reference works. hjˈj ~ hjj hlˈl ~ hll hmˈm ~ hmm hnˈn ~ hnn hrˈr ~ hrr In some clusters, there is an alternation in the quality of the first consonant between the two grades. Clusters beginning with in the strong grade: becomes in the weak grade. is inserted before a stop or affricate, and in other cases the last consonant phoneme can be doubled in the weak grade. kc ~ vcc () ks ~ vss kst ~ vstt kt ~ vtt () Clusters of pre-stopped nasals: a voiced stop occurs in the strong grade, and a voiceless stop in the weak grade. The voiceless stop, in turn, blocks doubling of the last consonant. In this case, however, there is no doubling in the orthography. In Eastern Finnmark, the stop is devoiced in the strong grade, making the two grades identical (but still with different preceding vowel lengths). In Sea Sámi, this alternation is replaced by geminate nasals. bm (EF ) ~ pm dn (EF ) ~ tn dnj (EF ) ~ tnj gŋ (EF ) ~ kŋ Clusters of a voiced consonant (except ) plus pre-stopped nasal: the stop is voiceless and occurs only in the strong grade, the weak grade has doubling of the nasal. In Eastern Finnmark, the stop is missing from the strong grade. lbm (EF ) ~ lmm idn (EF ) ~ inn vdnj (EF ) ~ vnnj lgŋ (EF ) ~ lŋŋ Sequences of two homorganic plain stops: the first stop is voiced in the strong grade, voiceless in the weak grade. The strong grade is represented orthographically by a pair of voiced consonants. bb ~ pp dd ~ tt gg ~ kk zz ~ cc žž ~ čč Sequences of two palatal stops: these are phonetically the same as the previous, but different orthographically. ddj ~ dj Quantity 2 ~ 1 alternations Alternations between 2 and 1 are less predictable than alternations between quantities 3 and 2. The weak grade is always represented by a single consonant, which forms the onset of the next