[v]→[u]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 5/5
Voiced labiodental fricative to Close back rounded vowel
The shift from the voiced labiodental fricative [v] to the high-back rounded vowel [u] is a form of vocalization. It typically occurs in coda positions where the fricative weakens into a glide [w] and merges with the vocalic nucleus, a common feature in the transition from Latin to Romance and Old English to Middle English.
Phonetic Effects
Vocalization, Lenition, Labialization
Language Examples
absentem [b/v]→ausente [u]— Vocalization of the labial consonant before a consonant.
civitatem→cidade (via ciudade)
hafoc [v] (written f)→hawk [u/ɔː]— The intervocalic labial fricative vocalized to [u].
Related Transformations
More Romance Shifts
Sources & References
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