[w]→[ŋ]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 3/5

Nasalization Place Assimilation Gur Volta-Niger

Voiced labio-velar approximant to Velar nasal

The phonetic transformation from a voiced labio-velar approximant ([w]) to a velar nasal ([ŋ]) is an attested, though often phonetically conditioned, sound change. This shift involves a change in the manner of articulation from an approximant to a nasal, and a change in the place of articulation from labio-velar to velar. It typically occurs in environments where nasalization is present or spreading.

Phonetic Effects

Nasalization, Place Assimilation, Change in Manner of Articulation

Language Examples

Kiliji Volta-Niger

w→ŋ— Observed as a sound correspondence in IY, a language related to Kiliji and Yoruba, indicating a shift in progress from [w] to [ŋ].

Kpan Gur

w→ŋ— The labial-velar approximant [w] is fully nasalized into [ŋ] when immediately preceded by a labial nasal consonant ([m] or [n]) and immediately followed by a nasal vowel.

Related Transformations

Reverse

More Nasalization Shifts

[ã] → [õ] — Raising [a] → [ã] — Assimilatory Nasalization [tɕ] → [ʃ] — De-affrication [∅] → [ã] — Compensatory Nasalization [∅] → [ẽ] — Compensatory Nasalization

Sources & References

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