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

[x]→[χ]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 4/5

Voiceless velar fricative to Voiceless uvular fricative

Backing of the velar fricative [x] to the uvular fricative [χ] occurs in several languages, often as a dialectal feature or triggered by back vowels.

Phonetic Effects

Backing

Language Examples

Northern Dutch [x]→[χ]— The 'hard G' in Northern Dutch is frequently realized as a uvular fricative [χ] rather than a velar [x].
[x]→[χ]— In many German dialects, the 'ach-laut' is backed to a uvular [χ] when following low back vowels like [a].

Related Transformations

More Backing Shifts

Sources & References

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