[∅]→[æ]Certainty: 3/5Commonality: 2/5
Empty sound / Zero to Near-open front unrounded vowel
The insertion of a near-open front vowel [æ] from an empty state is a specific form of prothesis or epenthesis. While languages typically prefer neutral vowels like schwa [ə] or high vowels [i] to break up illicit consonant clusters, [æ] can appear due to specific phonetic environments or L2 transfer.
Phonetic Effects
Prothesis, Epenthesis
Language Examples
snake [sn-]→[æsneɪk]— L2 transfer: Farsi speakers insert a low front vowel [æ] or [e] before illicit English s-clusters; the exact vowel quality varies by speaker.
rota (Latin)→arroda [a-]— Gascon prothesis before initial rhotics; the vowel is typically [a] rather than specifically [æ].
Related Transformations
More Romance Shifts
Sources & References
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