[tʃ]→[i]Certainty: 3/5Commonality: 2/5
Voiceless postalveolar affricate to Close front unrounded vowel
The shift from the voiceless postalveolar affricate [tʃ] to the high-front vowel [i] is a form of vocalization. This typically occurs in unstressed positions or suffixes, where the consonant loses its stop and fricative components, leaving only its palatal vowel quality.
Phonetic Effects
Vocalization, Lenition
Language Examples
ic [itʃ]→I [iː] → [aɪ]— The final [tʃ] was elided; the remaining vowel [i] lengthened and underwent the Great Vowel Shift. The [i] in modern 'I' comes from the original vowel, not from vocalization of [tʃ].
-lic [-litʃ]→-ly [-li]— The final affricate was lost (elision); the preceding vowel [i] survived. Strictly this is ch→∅ with vowel retention, rather than ch→i vocalization.
č [tʃ]→[j] / [i]— Reported in certain dialectal developments where palatal affricates reduced to glides or vowels; specific dialect not verified.
Related Transformations
More Germanic Shifts
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