Back to Matrix [θ] → [c] Edit this Data

[c]→[θ]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 3/5

Salishan Lenition Consonant Shift

Voiceless palatal plosive to Voiceless dental fricative

The voiceless palatal plosive /c/ can undergo a historical phonetic transformation to the voiceless dental fricative /θ/. This shift, observed in certain language families, represents a fascinating interplay of articulatory changes. It involves both a 'lenition' process, where a complete stop sound becomes a less obstructed fricative, and a 'fronting' of the articulation point, moving from the hard palate towards the teeth.

Phonetic Effects

Lenition, Fronting

Language Examples

Pentlatch Salishan

Proto-Salish *c→/θ/— Proto-Salish *c developed into /θ/ in Pentlatch.

Comox-Sliammon Salishan

Proto-Salish *c→/θ/— Proto-Salish *c developed into /θ/ in Comox-Sliammon.

Northern Straits Salish Salishan

Proto-Salish *c→/θ/— Proto-Salish *c developed into /θ/ in Northern Straits Salish, including the Saanich dialect.

Halkomelem Salishan

Proto-Salish *c→/θ/— Proto-Salish *c developed into /θ/ in Halkomelem.

Related Transformations

More Lenition Shifts

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

Sources & References

Reisinger, D. K. E., & Mellesmoen, G. (eds.). (2019). A Fricative-First Path from Proto-Salish *c to /s/ and /θ/ in Central Salish. Papers for the International Conference on Salish and Neighbouring Languages 54. Vancouver: UBCWPL.

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