The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [ʒ] → [d] Edit this Data

[d]→[ʒ]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 3/5

Voiced alveolar plosive to Voiced postalveolar fricative

The shift from the voiced alveolar stop [d] to the voiced postalveolar fricative [ʒ] (zh) is a form of palatalization and spirantization. It typically occurs when [d] is followed by a palatal semivowel [j] (yod-coalescence), passing through an intermediate affricate stage [dʒ] before losing its stop component.

Phonetic Effects

Palatalization, Spirantization

Language Examples

Latin 'diurnus'→jour [ʒ]— Historical palatalization: Latin /dj/ strengthened to [dʒ] in Old French and subsequently deaffricated to [ʒ] in Modern French.

Related Transformations

More Romance Shifts

Sources & References

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