contacts the nucleic vowel) are systematically and completely removed in loanwords, e.g. (standard ). The weak grade of , in contrast to standard Finnish, is never . In Savo the weak grade of this consonant may be , , , , or may simply be null. occurs between a long back vowel/diphthong and a short back vowel: for standard . occurs between a long front vowel/diphthong and a short front vowel: for standard . weakens to or is null following another instance of : or for standard . If none of the above apply, the weak form may remain as : for standard . The consonant sequences found in standard Finnish (whose weak grade is likewise in the standard language) are not found in Savonian dialects. Depending on the specific Savonian dialect they use, a Savo speaker may have: (weak grade ), thus instead of standard "forest, forest's". (weak grade ), thus . (weak grade ), thus . Morphology and syntax The use of the -loi plural suffix is more general than in other dialects, including standard Finnish. For instance risti "cross" has the plural partitive form ristilöitä (standard Finnish: ristejä). Although standard and known elsewhere, the usage of verb compounds is particularly prevalent in Savo Finnish and a prolific source of creative expressions. The first verb is in the infinitive and indicates the action, and the second verb is inflected and indicates the manner. For example, seistä toljotat "you stand there gawking" consists of words meaning "to-stand you-gawk". List of dialects Northern Savonian dialects Northern Savonian dialects are spoken in the municipalities of Hankasalmi (Eastern part), Haukivuori, Heinävesi, Iisalmi, Joroinen, Jäppilä, Kaavi, Kangaslampi, Karttula, Keitele, Kiuruvesi, Konnevesi, (Eastern part), Kuopio, Lapinlahti, Leppävirta, Maaninka, Muuruvesi (part of Juankoski since 1971), Nilsiä, Pieksämäki, Pielavesi, Pyhäsalmi, Rantasalmi, Rautalampi, Riistavesi (part of Kuopio since 1973), Siilinjärvi, Sonkajärvi, Suonenjoki, Säyneinen (part of Juankoski since 1971), Tervo, Tuusniemi, Varpaisjärvi, Varkaus, Vehmersalmi, Vesanto, Vieremä and Virtasalmi. Southern Savonian dialects Southern Savonian dialects are spoken in the municipalities of Anttola, Hirvensalmi, Juva, Kangasniemi, Mikkeli, Mäntyharju, Pertunmaa, (Eastern part) Puumala, Ristiina, Sulkava and Suomenniemi. Middle dialects of Savonlinna area Middle dialects of Savonlinna area are spoken in the Eastern Savonia, the municipalities surrounding the city of Savonlinna between Southern Savonia and North Karelia: Enonkoski, Kerimäki, Punkaharju, Savonranta and Sääminki (part of Punkaharju and Savonlinna since 1973). The dialect spoken in Enonkoski has many similarities with the dialects of