[l]→[x]Certainty: 3/5Commonality: 1/5
Alveolar lateral approximant to Voiceless velar fricative
The shift from the lateral approximant [l] to the voiceless velar fricative [x] is a rare form of velarization. It typically involves an intermediate stage where the lateral becomes 'dark' [ɫ], followed by the loss of the anterior (alveolar) closure, leaving only the velar friction.
Phonetic Effects
Velarization, Spirantization, Lenition
Language Examples
ł [ɫ]→[x] / [ɣ]— In some archaizing or eastern dialects, the historical dark L retains heavy velar friction, occasionally surfacing as a fricative.
Related Transformations
More Slavic Shifts
Sources & References
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