[j]→[z]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 5/5

Fortition Fronting Alveolarization Indo-European Sino-Tibetan Hellenic Kuki-Chin

Voiced palatal approximant to Voiced alveolar fricative

The transformation of the voiced palatal approximant [j] to the voiced alveolar fricative [z] is a documented sound change across various language families. This shift involves a strengthening of the articulation, moving from a less constricted approximant to a more constricted fricative, alongside a fronting of the place of articulation from the palate to the alveolar ridge.

Phonetic Effects

Fortition, Fronting, Alveolarization

Language Examples

Ancient Greek Hellenic

Proto-Indo-European *yugom→Ancient Greek zugon— Meaning 'yoke'. Classic example of the PIE *y- to Greek z- shift.

Mara Kuki-Chin

Proto-Kuki-Chin *j→/z/— The Proto-Kuki-Chin palatal approximant *j developed into a voiced alveolar fricative /z/ in many Kuki-Chin varieties, including Mara.

Tedim Kuki-Chin

Proto-Kuki-Chin *j→/z/— The Proto-Kuki-Chin palatal approximant *j developed into a voiced alveolar fricative /z/ in many Kuki-Chin varieties, including Tedim.

Thado Kuki-Chin

Proto-Kuki-Chin *j→/z/— The Proto-Kuki-Chin palatal approximant *j developed into a voiced alveolar fricative /z/ in many Kuki-Chin varieties, including Thado.

Sizang Kuki-Chin

Proto-Kuki-Chin *j→/z/— The Proto-Kuki-Chin palatal approximant *j developed into a voiced alveolar fricative /z/ in many Kuki-Chin varieties, including Sizang.

Hakha Lai Kuki-Chin

Proto-Kuki-Chin *j→/z/— The Proto-Kuki-Chin palatal approximant *j developed into a voiced alveolar fricative /z/ in many Kuki-Chin varieties, including Hakha Lai.

Related Transformations

Reverse

More Sino-Tibetan Shifts

[b] → [p] — Voice Loss [tɕ] → [ɕ] — Lenition [d] → [dʑ] — Palatalization [d] → [t] — Voice Loss [dz] → [l] — Deaffrication

Sources & References

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