[l]→[z]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 4/5

Fortition Spirantization Bantu Tibeto-Burman

Alveolar lateral approximant to Voiced alveolar fricative

The phonetic transformation from the alveolar lateral approximant /l/ to the voiced alveolar fricative /z/ is a documented sound change, primarily characterized by spirantization and fortition. This involves an increase in the stricture of articulation, converting an approximant into a fricative at the same place of articulation.

Phonetic Effects

Fortition, Spirantization

Language Examples

Silozi Bantu

/l/→/z/— Occurs as an alternation in verbal suffixes, such as the applicative /-el/ and perfective /-ile/, often triggered by the short causative /-y/ or the root-final consonant.

Chungli Ao Tibeto-Burman

/l/→/z/— A historical shift from Proto-Ao, occurring before a high front vowel with a velar coda (*-ik/ŋ).

Related Transformations

Reverse

More Spirantization Shifts

[b] → [v] — Spirantization [d] → [n] — Nasal Assimilation [d] → [ð] — Spirantization [ɡʱ] → [ʒ] — Palatalization [g] → [ɣ] — Spirantization

Sources & References

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