[ɬ]→[ɾ]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 2/5

Voiceless alveolar lateral fricative to Voiced alveolar flap

The transformation from a voiceless alveolar lateral fricative to an alveolar flap typically occurs through a process of sonorization and loss of lateral friction, often merging with existing liquid phonemes.

Phonetic Effects

Sonorization, Loss of Laterality, Lenition

Language Examples

Proto-Algonquian Algonquian

*θ [ɬ]→*r [ɾ]— Reconstructed shift where the voiceless lateral fricative merged with the rhotic flap in daughter languages like Shawnee.

Welsh Celtic

ɬ→l/r— Phonological relationship between voiceless laterals and rhotics, especially evident in the mutation system where both sonorize.

Related Transformations

Reverse Sonorization Rhoticization

More Celtic Shifts

[g] → [ɡʲ] — Secondary Palatalization [kʰ] → [g] — Deaspiration [n] → [ɲ] — Palatalization [n] → [nʲ] — Palatalization [t] → [θ] — Fricativization

Sources & References

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