[∅]→[ŋ]Certainty: 3/5Commonality: 5/5

Empty sound / Zero to Velar nasal

The appearance of a velar nasal [ŋ] where no consonant originally existed (epenthesis) is relatively uncommon but can occur through nasalization assimilation. When a vowel is nasalized before a subsequent nasal consonant, the nasal quality may be 'reinterpreted' as an actual consonant in rapid speech or in certain morphological constructions.

Phonetic Effects

Epenthesis, Nasal Assimilation, Consonantization of Nasalized Vowel

Language Examples

English (connected speech) Germanic

in five [ɪn faɪv]→[ɪŋ faɪv]— Assimilation of /n/ to the following velar stop [k] in 'five' may create a temporary [ŋ] even in hypercorrection or casual speech when the stop is dropped.

Related Transformations

Elision (common reverse)

More Assimilation Shifts

[a] → [ã] — Assimilatory Nasalization [a] → [∅] — Elision [a] → [ʔ] — Glottalization [a] → [ə] — Vowel Reduction [æ] → [ɛ] — Vowel Raising

Sources & References

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