[l]→[e]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 3/5

Alveolar lateral approximant to Close-mid front unrounded vowel

The shift from the lateral approximant [l] to the mid-front vowel [e] is a form of L-vocalization. While vocalization typically results in back vowels like [u] or [o], in certain Central Germanic dialects, syllable-final [l] shifts toward a fronted vocoid or glide, particularly after other front vowels.

Phonetic Effects

L-vocalization, Diphthongization

Language Examples

Bavarian / Austrian German Germanic

Geld [l]→[ɡeid] / [ɡɛid]— The lateral vocalizes into a front glide or vowel quality.

viel→[fiːe] / [fiə]

Related Transformations

Reverse

More Germanic Shifts

[a] → [ã] — Assimilatory Nasalization [a] → [∅] — Elision [a] → [ʔ] — Glottalization [a] → [ə] — Vowel Reduction [ʕ] → [a] — Vocalization

Sources & References

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