The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [h] → [ɸ] Edit this Data

[ɸ]→[h]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 5/5

Voiceless bilabial fricative to Voiceless glottal fricative

The shift from the voiceless bilabial fricative [ɸ] to the voiceless glottal fricative [h] is a process of debuccalization (lenition). This transformation marks the loss of an oral place of articulation, moving the friction to the glottis.

Phonetic Effects

Debuccalization, Lenition

Language Examples

historical /ɸ/→[h]— Historical trajectory: *p > ɸ > h. The modern Japanese /h/ is still realized as [ɸ] before [u].

Related Transformations

More Lenition Shifts

Sources & References

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