The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [ə] → [ɣ] Edit this Data

[ɣ]→[ə]Certainty: 2/5Commonality: 1/5

Voiced velar fricative to Mid central vowel

The vowel gamma [ɯ] reduces to schwa [ə] in unstressed syllables through stress-conditioned vowel reduction. This process reflects the phonetic economy of weak positions, where peripheral vowels centralize to the unmarked schwa.

Phonetic Effects

Centralization, Vowel Reduction

Language Examples

[ɯ]→[ə]— Reduction of [ɯ] in unstressed positions in rapid Japanese speech.

Related Transformations

More Centralization Shifts

Sources & References

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