[ẽ]→[æ]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 3/5
Nasalized close-mid front unrounded vowel to Near-open front unrounded vowel
The nasalized close-mid front unrounded vowel /ɛ̃/ can undergo a phonetic transformation involving both denasalization and lowering, resulting in the near-open front unrounded vowel /æ/. This shift is observed in the historical evolution of certain languages and in the adaptation of loanwords.
Phonetic Effects
Denasalization, Vowel Lowering
Language Examples
/ɛ̃/→/æ/— In French loanwords, the nasalized close-mid front unrounded vowel /ɛ̃/ can be denasalized and lowered to the near-open front unrounded vowel /æ/.
/ɛ̃/→[æ̃]— The historical evolution of the nasal vowel /ɛ̃/ in Standard French has shown a tendency towards a more open pronunciation, often realized as [æ̃] (a nasalized near-open front unrounded vowel), indicating a lowering effect while retaining nasality.
Related Transformations
More Romance Shifts
Sources & References
- Sakr, G. (March 06 2017). A Discussion of Issues from French Loans in Lebanese.
- French Language Stack Exchange. (June 04 2019). Why is the nasal vowel /ɛ̃/ transcribed as it is if it is closer to [ã]?.
- Wikipedia. Phonological history of French.
- University of York. nasalization as universal phonological process.
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