The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [ɛ] → [ə] Edit this Data

[ə]→[ɛ]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 4/5

Mid central vowel to Open-mid front unrounded vowel

In French and several Germanic dialects, a neutral schwa [ə] can strengthen to a full [ɛ] when the phonetic environment changes, such as when a syllable becomes closed or stressed.

Phonetic Effects

Loi De Position, Fortition

Language Examples

appeler [ə]→appelle [ɛ]— Stress shift and syllable closing causes the 'silent e' to strengthen.

Related Transformations

More Romance Shifts

Sources & References

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