[p]→[w]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 2/5
Voiceless bilabial plosive to Voiced labio-velar approximant
The shift from the voiceless bilabial stop [p] to the voiced labio-velar approximant [w] is a classic example of multi-stage lenition (weakening). This historical trajectory typically involves voicing and spirantization stages, where the complete labial closure is relaxed into a glide.
Phonetic Effects
Lenition, Vocalization
Language Examples
sapere→savoir [v/w stage]— Intervocalic lenition path: p > b > β > v/w. In various Romance dialects, these labial sounds maintain a glide-like quality.
historical *p→[w] / [v]— Widespread shift in syllable-initial positions across various Pacific island dialects.
Related Transformations
More Romance Shifts
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