[t]→[k]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 2/5

Voiceless alveolar plosive to Voiceless velar plosive

The shift from the alveolar stop [t] to the velar stop [k] is known as velarization. While rare in many language families, it is a hallmark of Polynesian sound change and occurs in specific Sinitic dialects. It often results from a perceptual shift in the coda position or as a systemic move to fill a vacated velar space.

Phonetic Effects

Velarization, Perceptual Shift, Merger

Language Examples

Hawaiian Austronesian

*tapu [t] (Proto-Polynesian)→kapu [k] (taboo)— Hawaiian systematically shifted all historical [t] sounds to [k].

*tanata→kanaka

Chaoshan (Southern Min) Sino-Tibetan

historical *-t→*-k— Historical syllable-final alveolar stops shifted to velars after the vowel [a].

Related Transformations

Reverse

More Sino-Tibetan Shifts

[b] → [p] — Voice Loss [tɕ] → [ɕ] — Lenition [d] → [t] — Voice Loss [dz] → [l] — Deaffrication [ɡʲ] → [tɕ] — Palatalization

Sources & References

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