The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [h] → [ɬ] Edit this Data

[ɬ]→[h]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 2/5

Voiceless alveolar lateral fricative to Voiceless glottal fricative

The voiceless alveolar lateral fricative /ɬ/, a relatively marked sound in the world's languages, can undergo a process of lenition, simplifying its articulation. One such transformation involves its shift to the voiceless glottal fricative /h/, a sound produced with minimal obstruction in the vocal tract.

Phonetic Effects

Debuccalization, Glottalization

Language Examples

tɨɬa→tuha— 'yucca' in Maldonado-Xinka
wapaɬ→wapah— 'seat, bench' in Maldonado-Xinka

Related Transformations

More Lenition Shifts

Sources & References

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