The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [ʕ] → [∅] Edit this Data

[∅]→[ʕ]Certainty: 3/5Commonality: 1/5

Empty sound / Zero to Voiced pharyngeal fricative

Epenthesis of the pharyngeal fricative [ʕ] (ain) is a rare phonological process, primarily documented in certain Arabic dialects and Somali to resolve vowel hiatus.

Phonetic Effects

Pharyngeal Epenthesis, Hiatus Resolution

Language Examples

ma-u (∅ at juncture)→maʕu— Dialectal pharyngeal insertion at vowel hiatus; the [ʕ] resolves the V-V sequence.
vowel + vowel (hiatus)→V-ʕ-V— Insertion of pharyngeal [ʕ] to resolve vowel hiatus. Specific lexical examples not provided in source; flagged for verification.

Related Transformations

More Semitic Shifts

Sources & References

Spotted a mistake or have a better example?

EchoDrift is community-driven. You can suggest a change directly through GitHub.

Propose an Edit on GitHub