The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [m] → [w] Edit this Data

[w]→[m]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 3/5

Voiced labio-velar approximant to Bilabial nasal

The phonetic transformation from a voiced labio-velar approximant /w/ to a bilabial nasal /m/ is a documented historical sound change, often occurring in environments influenced by nasalization or as a result of the loss of the approximant quality.

Phonetic Effects

Nasalization, Fortition

Language Examples

*dmʾwʾtʾ→dmwmʾtʾ— Intervocalic shift of /w/ to /m/ in 'images'.
*ʿwmʾwʾtʾ→ʿwmʾwʾtʾ— Intervocalic shift of /w/ to /m/ in 'oaths'.
*w→[m]— Universal conversion of *w to [m] before a nasal vowel.
*awẽʔ→amaa— Proto-Iroquoian *awẽʔ 'water' became Cherokee amaa /àma̋ː/ 'water' when *w was followed by a nasalized vowel.
*awẽʔ→Ame— Proto-Iroquoian *awẽʔ 'water' became Laurentian Ame 'id.' when *w was followed by a nasalized vowel.
awę'→[aˈmɛ̃ʔ]— Wyandot awę' /aˈwɛ̃ʔ/ 'water' pronounced [aˈmɛ̃ʔ] when *w was followed by a nasalized vowel.
/w/→/m/— Intervocalic /w/ changed to /m/ as part of the loss of phonemic /w/.
/w/→/m/— Nasalization of /w/ to /m/ in words like maŋa.

Related Transformations

More Nasalization Shifts

Sources & References

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