Betacism
Encyclopedia
In historical linguistics
, betacism is a sound change
in which [b] (the voiced bilabial plosive
, like in bane) shifts to [v] (the voiced labiodental fricative
, like in English vane). Betacism is a fairly common phenomenon; it has taken place in Greek
, Hebrew
, and Spanish
, among others.
In Classical Greek, the letter beta
<β> denoted [b]. As a result of betacism, it has come to denote [v] in Modern Greek
. (Modern Greek uses the digraph <μπ> to represent [b].) Indeed, this is the origin of the word betacism.
Perhaps the best known example of betacism is in the Romance languages
. The first traces of betacism in Latin
can be found in the third century C.E. The results of the shift are most widespread in the Western Romance languages
, especially in Spanish
, where the letters <b> and <v> are now both pronounced [β] (the voiced bilabial fricative
, which is similar to [v]) except phrase-initially and after [m] when they are pronounced [b]; the two sounds ([β] and [b]) are now allophone
s. A similar phenomenon takes place in Persian
in casual speech. Another example is in Neapolitan
, or in Maceratese (dialect of Macerata) which uses <v> to denote betacism-produced [v], such that Italian
bocca corresponds to Neapolitan voccaand to Maceratese "vocca", Italian albero to arvero, and barba to Neapolitan varva and Maceratese "varba".
Betacism occurred in Ancient Hebrew; the sound [b] (denoted <ב>) changed to [β] and eventually to [v] except when geminated
or when following a consonant or pause. As a result, the two sounds became allophone
s; but, due to later sound changes, including the loss of gemination, the distinction become phonemic
in Modern Hebrew
.
Historical linguistics
Historical linguistics is the study of language change. It has five main concerns:* to describe and account for observed changes in particular languages...
, betacism is a sound change
Sound change
Sound change includes any processes of language change that affect pronunciation or sound system structures...
in which [b] (the voiced bilabial plosive
Voiced bilabial plosive
The voiced bilabial plosive is a type of consonantal sound, used in some spoken languages. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is , and the equivalent X-SAMPA symbol is b. The voiced bilabial plosive occurs in English, and it is the sound denoted by the...
, like in bane) shifts to [v] (the voiced labiodental fricative
Voiced labiodental fricative
The voiced labiodental fricative is a type of consonantal sound used in some spoken languages. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is , and the equivalent X-SAMPA symbol is v....
, like in English vane). Betacism is a fairly common phenomenon; it has taken place in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
, and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, among others.
In Classical Greek, the letter beta
Beta (letter)
Beta is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. In Ancient Greek, beta represented the voiced bilabial plosive . In Modern Greek, it represents the voiced labiodental fricative ....
<β> denoted [b]. As a result of betacism, it has come to denote [v] in Modern Greek
Modern Greek
Modern Greek refers to the varieties of the Greek language spoken in the modern era. The beginning of the "modern" period of the language is often symbolically assigned to the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, even though that date marks no clear linguistic boundary and many characteristic...
. (Modern Greek uses the digraph <μπ> to represent [b].) Indeed, this is the origin of the word betacism.
Perhaps the best known example of betacism is in the Romance languages
Romance languages
The Romance languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family, more precisely of the Italic languages subfamily, comprising all the languages that descend from Vulgar Latin, the language of ancient Rome...
. The first traces of betacism in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
can be found in the third century C.E. The results of the shift are most widespread in the Western Romance languages
Western Romance languages
The Western Romance languages are one of the primary subdivisions of the Romance languages. They include at least the following:* The Pyrenean–Mozarabic group consists of two languages in two separate branches:**Aragonese**Mozarabic...
, especially in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, where the letters <b> and <v> are now both pronounced [β] (the voiced bilabial fricative
Voiced bilabial fricative
-See also:* List of phonetics topics...
, which is similar to [v]) except phrase-initially and after [m] when they are pronounced [b]; the two sounds ([β] and [b]) are now allophone
Allophone
In phonology, an allophone is one of a set of multiple possible spoken sounds used to pronounce a single phoneme. For example, and are allophones for the phoneme in the English language...
s. A similar phenomenon takes place in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
in casual speech. Another example is in Neapolitan
Neapolitan language
Neapolitan is the language of the city and region of Naples , and Campania. On October 14, 2008 a law by the Region of Campania stated that the Neapolitan language had to be protected....
, or in Maceratese (dialect of Macerata) which uses <v> to denote betacism-produced [v], such that Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
bocca corresponds to Neapolitan voccaand to Maceratese "vocca", Italian albero to arvero, and barba to Neapolitan varva and Maceratese "varba".
Betacism occurred in Ancient Hebrew; the sound [b] (denoted <ב>) changed to [β] and eventually to [v] except when geminated
Gemination
In phonetics, gemination happens when a spoken consonant is pronounced for an audibly longer period of time than a short consonant. Gemination is distinct from stress and may appear independently of it....
or when following a consonant or pause. As a result, the two sounds became allophone
Allophone
In phonology, an allophone is one of a set of multiple possible spoken sounds used to pronounce a single phoneme. For example, and are allophones for the phoneme in the English language...
s; but, due to later sound changes, including the loss of gemination, the distinction become phonemic
Phoneme
In a language or dialect, a phoneme is the smallest segmental unit of sound employed to form meaningful contrasts between utterances....
in Modern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew , also known as Israeli Hebrew or Modern Israeli Hebrew, is the language spoken in Israel and in some Jewish communities worldwide, from the early 20th century to the present....
.