[ɣ]→[k]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 3/5

Fortition Devoicing Velar Fricative Plosive Uralic Yeniseian Cushitic

Voiced velar fricative to Voiceless velar plosive

The transformation of a voiced velar fricative ([ɣ]) into a voiceless velar plosive ([k]) represents a phonetic strengthening process known as fortition. This shift involves both the loss of vocal cord vibration (devoicing) and a change in the manner of articulation from a continuous, turbulent airflow (fricative) to a complete closure followed by a sudden release (plosive). While lenition (weakening) is a more common sound change, fortition of this type is attested in specific linguistic contexts.

Phonetic Effects

Devoicing, Fortition, Stop Formation

Language Examples

Kulisi Cushitic

ɨnkɨr-t-ɨɣwa→ɨnkɨr-t-ɨkwa— Shift in the aspect marker for 2nd person plural in verbal inflection.

ɨnkɨr-ɣwa→ɨnkɨr-kwa— Shift in the aspect marker for 3rd person plural in verbal inflection.

Finno-Volgaic Uralic

ɣ→k— Intervocalic /ɣ/ shifted to /k/ with concomitant lengthening of the preceding vowel.

Saami Uralic

ɣ→k— General shift of /ɣ/ to /k/.

Ket Yeniseian

[ɣ]→[k]— Allophonic variation where [ɣ] can be realized as [k].

Related Transformations

Reverse

More Devoicing Shifts

[b] → [p] — Voice Loss [d] → [t] — Voice Loss [ɡʲ] → [tɕ] — Palatalization [g] → [ɟ] — Palatalization [g] → [k] — Voice Loss

Sources & References

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