[n]→[ʃ]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 2/5
Alveolar nasal to Voiceless postalveolar fricative
The shift from the alveolar nasal /n/ to the voiceless postalveolar fricative /ʃ/ is a documented palatalization process, notably attested in Eastern Ojibwe. This change is considered 'unmotivated' or 'unnatural' in some linguistic theories due to its departure from typical phonetic motivations.
Phonetic Effects
Palatalization, Denasalization, Devoicing, Change in Manner, Change in Place
Language Examples
/n/→[ʃ]— Palatalization of /n/ to [ʃ] occurs before front vowels.
More Palatalization Shifts
Sources & References
- Buckley, E. (2000). The Phonology of Eastern Ojibwe. University of Chicago Press.
- Beguš, G. (2018). Post-nasal devoicing and the blurring process. Journal of Linguistics, 54(3), 519-557.
- Beguš, G. (2019). Estimating historical probabilities of natural and unnatural processes. Phonology, 36(1), 51-97.
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