[ʒ]→[χ]Certainty: 4/5Commonality: 3/5
Voiced postalveolar fricative to Voiceless uvular fricative
The voiced postalveolar fricative /ʒ/ can undergo a historical sound change to the voiceless uvular fricative /χ/. This transformation involves both a shift in the place of articulation further back in the mouth (uvularization) and a loss of vocal fold vibration (devoicing). This specific shift is attested in the historical development of the Gothic language.
Phonetic Effects
Devoicing, Backing, Uvularization
Language Examples
/ʒ/→/χ/— Proto-Germanic /ʒ/ became Gothic /χ/ after vowels, both finally and before -s. Although written with 'g' in Gothic, the pronunciation in these positions is assumed to have been /χ/. Examples include Gothic 'dag' (day), 'wig' (way), 'ōg' (I fear), 'mag' (he can, may), 'dags' (days), 'wigs' (ways), 'manags' (much, many), and 'baúrgs' (city).
Related Transformations
More Backing Shifts
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