[m]→[∅]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 5/5
Bilabial nasal to Empty sound / Zero
The elision of [m] is a widespread historical process, particularly at the ends of words or before fricatives. It typically involves a stage of vowel nasalization followed by the complete loss of the consonantal gesture.
Phonetic Effects
Elision, Nasal Spirant Law, Deletion
Language Examples
vinum (Latin)→vino (Spanish/Italian)— Final m was lost very early in Vulgar Latin speech.
*munthaz→mouth— Nasal Spirant Law: loss of nasal before a fricative with compensatory lengthening.
Related Transformations
More Romance Shifts
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