Back to Matrix [w] → [bʲ] Edit this Data

[bʲ]→[w]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 4/5

Lenition Consonant Weakening Bilabial Labio-velar Palatalization Turkic

Palatalized voiced bilabial plosive to Voiced labio-velar approximant

The transformation from a palatalized voiced bilabial plosive (`bʲ`) to a voiced labio-velar approximant (`w`) is a phonetically plausible instance of lenition, where a stop consonant weakens to a more open, glide-like articulation. The inherent palatalization of the bilabial stop can contribute to its overall weakening and facilitate the shift towards a labio-velar approximant due to acoustic similarities with other labial approximants. This process involves a change in both manner and place of articulation, often originating from allophonic variation in casual speech that can lead to historical sound change.

Phonetic Effects

Lenition, Place Assimilation, Loss of Palatalization

Language Examples

Kyrgyz Turkic

b→w— In casual speech, the voiced bilabial plosive /b/ can be realized as a labio-velar approximant [w], especially in intervocalic positions or when preceding /l, r, y/ and a vowel. While this example refers to /b/ generally, the palatalized variant /bʲ/ would be expected to undergo similar or even enhanced lenition due to its already 'softened' articulation and the general tendency for labial obstruents to develop into /w/.

Related Transformations

Reverse

More Lenition Shifts

[a] → [∅] — Elision [b] → [bʲ] — Palatalization [b] → [v] — Spirantization [tɕ] → [ʃ] — De-affrication [tɕ] → [ɕ] — Lenition

Sources & References

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