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

[dʱ]→[ʒ]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 3/5

Voiced aspirated alveolar plosive to Voiced postalveolar fricative

The transformation from a voiced aspirated alveolar plosive (dʰ) to a voiced postalveolar fricative (ʒ) is a complex but well-attested phonetic shift, typically occurring through a series of weakening and palatalizing processes. This change involves the relaxation of a complete stop closure into a continuous, turbulent airflow (spirantization), the loss of aspiration (deaspiration), and a shift in the place of articulation from the alveolar ridge to the postalveolar region, often accompanied by a sibilant quality (assibilation).

Phonetic Effects

Lenition, Palatalization, Assibilation

Language Examples

d͡ʒ→ʒ— In some Levantine and Maghrebi dialects, the Proto-West Semitic *ɡ evolved through palatalization to an affricate [d͡ʒ] and subsequently lenited to a fricative [ʒ].
d͡ʒ→ʒ— The voiced lamino-alveolar affricate /d͡ʒ/ is realized as the corresponding fricative [ʒ] in intervocalic positions.
d→d͡ʒ— Allophonic variation where /d/ can become a postalveolar affricate [d͡ʒ] before /ɹ/ (e.g., 'drew' pronounced as [d͡ʒɹu̟w]), illustrating an initial step of palatalization and affrication from an alveolar stop.

Related Transformations

More Semitic Shifts

Sources & References

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