[ɮ]→[l]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 3/5
Voiced alveolar lateral fricative to Alveolar lateral approximant
The shift from the voiced alveolar lateral fricative [ɮ] to the voiced alveolar lateral approximant [l] is a process of de-fricativization. This weakening occurs when the narrow constriction required for lateral friction is widened into a laminar approximant, often driven by contact with languages lacking the fricative lateral.
Phonetic Effects
De-fricativization, Lenition
Language Examples
soli [ɮ]→[l]— Traditional [ɮ] is shifting toward a plain [l] due to intensive contact with Mandarin.
al-qāḍī [ɮˤ]→alcalde [l]— Early Arabic voiced lateral fricatives were adapted as lateral approximants when borrowed into Spanish.
Related Transformations
More Romance Shifts
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