[ʈʂʰ]→[ʃ]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 4/5
Voiceless aspirated retroflex affricate to Voiceless postalveolar fricative
The transformation from a voiceless aspirated retroflex affricate (ʈʂʰ) to a voiceless postalveolar fricative (ʃ) represents a common lenition process observed in various Sinitic languages. This shift involves a reduction in articulatory complexity, moving from a stop-fricative sequence with aspiration and a retroflex place of articulation to a simpler fricative with a postalveolar place and no aspiration.
Phonetic Effects
De-affrication, Loss of Aspiration, A Reduction in Retroflexion to a Postalveolar Place of Articulation
Language Examples
ʈʂʰ→ʃ— This shift is observed for pinyin 'ch-' initials in Taiwanese Mandarin, influenced by Hokkien, and is also found in other Mandarin dialects across southern China.
Related Transformations
More Lenition Shifts
Sources & References
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