Back to Matrix [ai] → [ou] Edit this Data

[ou]→[ai]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 3/5

Papuan Vowel Shift Fronting Unrounding Diphthong Trans-New Guinea

Diphthong ou to Diphthong ai

The diphthong /ou/, typically a back rounded vowel glide, can undergo a notable phonetic transformation to /ai/, a front unrounded vowel glide. This shift involves a significant change in the articulatory position, moving the diphthong's trajectory from a back, rounded configuration to a front, unrounded one.

Phonetic Effects

Fronting, Rounding

Language Examples

Orokolo Trans-New Guinea

urou→urai— A shift observed in the formation of converbs from plain forms.

More Vowel Shift Shifts

[ã] → [õ] — Raising [d] → [n] — Nasal Assimilation [e] → [o] — Backing [ɡʱ] → [ʒ] — Palatalization [ɡʲ] → [dz] — Fronting

Sources & References

Franklin, K. J. (2006). A Comparative Dictionary of Orokolo, Gulf of Papua. Pacific Linguistics.

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