[ɛ]→[a]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 4/5
Open-mid front unrounded vowel to Open front unrounded vowel
The phonetic transformation from the open-mid front unrounded vowel /ɛ/ to the open front unrounded vowel /a/ represents a common sound change known as vowel lowering. This shift involves the tongue moving to a lower position in the mouth, resulting in a more open vowel sound, while maintaining its front articulation and unrounded lip shape. This type of change is observed across various languages and can be influenced by factors such as syllable structure or adjacent sounds.
Phonetic Effects
Vowel Lowering, Decrease in Vowel Height
Language Examples
/fɛ/→[fak]— Lowering of /ɛ/ in 'fait' in word-final position, often reduced from 'ça fait que'.
/fʁãsɛ/→[fʁãsa]— Lowering of /ɛ/ in 'français' to [a] or [æ].
*/ɛ/→/a/— A historical shift of */ɛ/ to /a/ that contributed to a more prototypical vowel system after the loss of [coronal] features.
Related Transformations
More Romance Shifts
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