[s]→[n]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 2/5
Voiceless alveolar fricative to Alveolar nasal
The shift from the alveolar fricative [s] to the alveolar nasal [n] is a form of nasal assimilation. It typically occurs in consonant clusters where the sibilant adopts the nasal airflow of a following sound, resulting in a geminate nasal that eventually simplifies.
Phonetic Effects
Nasal Assimilation, Cluster Simplification
Language Examples
historical [sn]→[nn] -> [n]— Regressive assimilation in clusters where the sibilant became a nasal.
nasus (Latin)→[n]— While starting with n, the historical relationship between sibilants and nasals in these roots often involves complex assimilatory paths.
Related Transformations
More Nasalization Shifts
Sources & References
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