The Universal Atlas of Phonetic Evolution
Back to Matrix [kʰ] → [x] Edit this Data

[x]→[kʰ]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 3/5

Voiceless velar fricative to Voiceless aspirated velar plosive

The transformation from a voiceless velar fricative ([x]) to a voiceless aspirated velar plosive ([kʰ]) is a process of fortition, specifically involving the stopping of the fricative and the addition of aspiration. This shift is less common than lenition (plosive to fricative) but is attested in certain languages.

Phonetic Effects

Fortition, Stopping, Aspiration

Language Examples

xar→kʰar— The initial /x/ of the root 'xar' (fertile) becomes /kʰ/ in the affixed form 'ɔ.kʰar' (non-fertile).
xɔt→kʰɔt— The initial /x/ of the root 'xɔt' (honest) becomes /kʰ/ in the affixed form 'ɔ.kʰɔt'.

Related Transformations

More Sino-Tibetan Shifts

Sources & References

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