The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [h] → [i] Edit this Data

[i]→[h]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 2/5

Close front unrounded vowel to Voiceless glottal fricative

The shift from [i] to [h] is a result of extreme vowel reduction and devoicing. The vowel loses its oral articulation and voicing, leaving only the glottal friction trace, often found in rapid or whispered speech.

Phonetic Effects

Devoicing, Debuccalization

Language Examples

hito [çito]→[çto] / [hto]— Unstressed [i] can reduce to a simple glottal or palatal friction trace.

Related Transformations

More Devoicing Shifts

Sources & References

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