[∅]→[z]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 4/5
Empty sound / Zero to Voiced alveolar fricative
The voiced alveolar fricative [z] surfaces in French liaison before vowel-initial words. Strictly speaking, this is not true epenthesis (∅→z) but the resurfacing of a historically present but normally silent final /z/ (from historical -s/-x spellings). Functionally it resolves vowel hiatus.
Phonetic Effects
Liaison, Hiatus Resolution
Language Examples
les [le] (before consonant)→les amis [lezami]— Liaison: latent /z/ from the -s of 'les' surfaces before vowel-initial words. Historical final [z] preserved as liaison consonant.
deux [dø] (before consonant)→deux ans [døzɑ̃]— Liaison: final -x of 'deux' (historically /z/) surfaces before vowel. Not true ∅→z insertion.
Related Transformations
More Romance Shifts
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