Back to Matrix [j] → [dʑ] Edit this Data

[dʑ]→[j]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 5/5

Lenition Deaffrication Semitic

Voiced alveolo-palatal affricate to Voiced palatal approximant

The transformation from the voiced alveolo-palatal affricate /d͡ʒ/ to the voiced palatal approximant /j/ is a common phonetic shift, primarily characterized by lenition. This process involves the weakening of the affricate, where the complete closure characteristic of an affricate is reduced to a partial closure, resulting in an approximant. This deaffrication is a natural sound change observed across various languages and dialects, often driven by articulatory ease.

Phonetic Effects

Lenition, Deaffrication, Spirantization

Language Examples

Kuwaiti Arabic Semitic

khanjar→khanyar— 'dagger'

jarrāra→yarrara— 'drawer'

ʔad͡ʒeb→ʔayeb— from 'ajīb' ('bring')

ʔastad͡ʒil→ʔastayil— from 'astaʕjil' ('rush')

Emirati Arabic Semitic

/d͡ʒ/→[j]— A synchronic phonological process of lenition.

Qatari Arabic Semitic

/d͡ʒ/→[j]— Well-attested lenition process.

Related Transformations

More Semitic Shifts

[ã] → [õ] — Raising [a] → [∅] — Elision [ʕ] → [a] — Vocalization [ʕ] → [ʔ] — De-pharyngealization [b] → [v] — Spirantization

Sources & References

Johnstone, Thomas M. (1967). The Sound Change “j > y” in the Arabic Dialects of Peninsular Arabia. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 28 (2): 233–241.

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