[ɣ]→[x]Certainty: 3/5Commonality: 2/5
Voiced velar fricative to Voiceless velar fricative
The velar fricative [ɣ] shifts to the voiceless velar fricative [x] through devoicing. This process eliminates the voicing feature while preserving the place and manner of articulation, and occurs in various phonological contexts including word-final position and before voiceless consonants.
Phonetic Effects
Devoicing
Language Examples
[ɣ]→[x]— Devoicing of post-alveolar velar fricatives in the development from Vulgar Latin through Old Spanish to Modern Spanish /x/.
[ɣ]→[x]— Devoicing of intervocalic velar fricatives in word-final and pre-consonantal positions in various German dialects.
[ɣ]→[x]— Devoicing in word-final and post-consonantal environments, contributing to regional phonological variation.
Related Transformations
More Romance Shifts
Sources & References
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