Back to Matrix [ð] → [s] Edit this Data

[s]→[ð]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 3/5

Fricative Voicing Dentalization Lenition Bantu Mixtecan Nilotic

Voiceless alveolar fricative to Voiced dental fricative

The phonetic transformation from the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/ to the voiced dental fricative /ð/ involves both a shift in the place of articulation from alveolar to dental, and a change in voicing from voiceless to voiced. This sound change can be influenced by processes such as dentalization and voicing assimilation, or it can occur as a lenition process.

Phonetic Effects

Voicing, Dentalization, Lenition, Place Assimilation

Language Examples

/s/→/ð/— In northern varieties, /s/ in Kiswahili-derived loanwords can shift to /ð/, such as 'sahani' becoming 'thaani'.

Estetla Mixtec Mixtecan

s→ð— This shift is common in northeastern groups (Groups 1, 4, 5, 7, and 14).

Apoala Mixtec Mixtecan

/s/→[ð]— Allophonic variation includes the lenition of /s/ to [ð].

Proto Kalenjin Nilotic

s→ð— A historical shift from Proto Baz to Proto Kalenjin has been observed, though its explanation is noted as difficult.

Related Transformations

More Lenition Shifts

[a] → [∅] — Elision [b] → [v] — Spirantization [tɕ] → [ʃ] — De-affrication [tɕ] → [ɕ] — Lenition [d] → [∅] — Elision

Sources & References

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