[∅]→[y]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 4/5
Empty sound / Zero to Close front rounded vowel
Prothesis of the palatal glide [j] (y) is a widespread phenomenon, particularly in Slavic languages where it was added before initial front vowels.
Phonetic Effects
Prothesis, Glide Insertion
Language Examples
pre-Slavic *ablъko→jabloko (Russian яблоко, apple)— Prothetic /j/ inserted before initial front vowel *a → ja. Well-documented Slavic y-prothesis before front vowels.
pre-Slavic *ezъkъ→*językъ → Russian язык yazyk (language)— Prothetic /j/ before *e: *ez- → *jez-. Note: *językъ is already the PS form with j-prothesis; the pre-Slavic root lacked it.
Related Transformations
More Slavic Shifts
Sources & References
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