[n]→[g]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 3/5

Assimilation Denasalization Indo-Aryan Germanic Fortition

Alveolar nasal to Voiced velar plosive

The transformation of an alveolar nasal [n] into a voiced velar plosive [g] is a documented phonetic shift, primarily occurring through processes of assimilation and subsequent denasalization. This involves a change in both the place of articulation, from alveolar to velar, and the manner of articulation, from nasal to plosive. Such shifts often arise in specific phonological environments, particularly when the nasal consonant is adjacent to a velar plosive.

Phonetic Effects

Place Assimilation, Denasalization, Fortition

Language Examples

Prakrit Indo-Aryan

agni→aggi— In Prakrit, the Sanskrit sequence of a velar plosive followed by an alveolar nasal ([gn]) underwent assimilation and denasalization, resulting in a geminated velar plosive ([ɡɡ]). The alveolar nasal [n] assimilated to the preceding velar [g], becoming a velar nasal [ŋ], which then denasalized and merged with the following [g] to form [ɡɡ].

Continental Runic Germanic

n→g— This shift is documented within the phonological developments observed in Continental Runic inscriptions.

More Assimilation Shifts

[a] → [ã] — Assimilatory Nasalization [a] → [∅] — Elision [a] → [ʔ] — Glottalization [a] → [ə] — Vowel Reduction [ai] → [e] — Monophthongization

Sources & References

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