The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [s] → [dz] Edit this Data

[dz]→[s]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 4/5

Voiced alveolar affricate to Voiceless alveolar fricative

The transformation of the voiced alveolar affricate /dz/ into the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/ is a well-attested phonetic shift, primarily driven by processes of lenition. This change involves both the deaffrication of the sound, where the stop component is lost, and its devoicing, resulting in a 'weaker' consonant.

Phonetic Effects

Lenition, Deaffrication, Devoicing

Language Examples

dz→s— A general historical shift where /dz/ became /s/ (and /ts/ became /s/).
*dz→z— Proto-Iranian *ts/dz developed into s/z in Northwestern Iranian languages like Gorgani, as seen in words like 'zən-' (know).
dz→s— The shift of /dz/ to /s/ is noted as originating in southwestern Spain, contributing to the confusion of sibilants.

Related Transformations

More Romance Shifts

Sources & References

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