[w]→[n]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 1/5
Voiced labio-velar approximant to Alveolar nasal
The phonetic transformation from the voiced labio-velar approximant ([w]) to the alveolar nasal ([n]) involves a significant shift in both the place and manner of articulation. This change moves the point of articulation from the lips and velum to the alveolar ridge and alters the airflow from an approximant (where air flows freely) to a nasal (where air escapes through the nose). Such a direct shift is considered uncommon in the world's languages.
Phonetic Effects
Place Assimilation, Manner Change
Language Examples
/w/→/n/— A morpho-phonological process turns /w/ into /n/ when it appears at the end of a word. For example, the verb /chowa/ 'to do' becomes [ogichin] 'he did it' in the past tense. Similarly, the possessive suffix /w/ becomes /-n/, as in 'my wife' /no-soa-n/ and 'my name' /no-tu:ga-n/.
Related Transformations
More Consonant Shift Shifts
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