[u]→[l]Certainty: 2/5Commonality: 5/5

Close back rounded vowel to Alveolar lateral approximant

The shift from the high back rounded vowel [u] to the alveolar lateral approximant [l] is a rare consonantalization process. It typically occurs in dissimilation or morphological alternations where a vowel becomes a glide-like consonant, often in environments with strong rhotic or lateral influence in the surrounding context.

Phonetic Effects

Consonantalization, Diphthong Reduction, Alveolarization

Language Examples

Japanese (Historical) Japonic

ku→k- (prefix) + -r- (historical)— Not a direct shift, but some Old Japanese reconstructions show *[u] influences on adjacent consonants leading to [] glide formation, which in certain dialects contributed to lateral allophones.

Related Transformations

Vocalization (common reverse)

More Japonic Shifts

[d] → [dʑ] — Palatalization [i] → [∅] — Elision [k] → [g] — Voicing [ɴ] → [m] — Assimilation [ɴ] → [n] — Assimilation

Sources & References

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