[∅]→[õ]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 5/5
Empty sound / Zero to Nasalized close-mid back rounded vowel
The transformation from a 'zero' sound (empty) to a nasalized close-mid back rounded vowel ([õ]) is a common historical phonetic shift, primarily occurring through the loss of a nasal consonant (such as /m/ or /n/) and the subsequent nasalization of an adjacent vowel. This process, known as nasal consonant deletion with compensatory vowel nasalization, has led to the development of distinctive nasal vowel systems in various languages.
Phonetic Effects
Consonant Loss, Compensatory Vowel Nasalization, Potential Vowel Rounding Or Backing to Achieve the [õ] Quality
Language Examples
/ɔn/→/õ/— The Vulgar Latin /ɔ/ (from Latin /o/) became nasalized to [õ] before a nasal consonant, which was subsequently lost. This [õ] later often lowered to [ɔ̃] in Modern French.
Latin /on/→Portuguese /õ/— The nasal consonant /n/ was lost, and the preceding vowel /o/ became nasalized to /õ/. For instance, Latin *ponit* evolved to Portuguese *põe* [põj].
Related Transformations
More Nasalization Shifts
Sources & References
- Zien Journals Publishing. The Formation of the Opposition between Oral and Nasal Vowels in the French Language.
- Grokipedia. Old French.
- Hajek, J. (1993). Old French nasalization and universals of sound change. Journal of French Language Studies, 3(2), 145-164.
- Elon.io. Nasal Vowels and Nasal Diphthongs | Portuguese (Portugal) Grammar.
- Migaku. Portuguese Accent Marks: Complete Guide to Diacritics.
- Talkio AI. Nasal Vowels in French vs. Nasal Sounds in Portuguese: A Pronunciation Puzzle.
- Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics - AIP Publishing. On covariation between nasal consonant weakening and anticipatory vowel nasalization: Evidence from a Caribbean and a non-Caribbean dialect of Spanish.
- Brill. Chapter 5 Segmental Features and Syllable Structure in: A Description of Papiamentu.
- Schane, S. A. (1973). Linguistic Change and Generative Theory. Open Indiana.
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