Sindarin Phonetic Development (Part 47)
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S. initial [s] vanished before spirants; [s{ɸθx}-] > [{ɸθx}-]
Any initial s before spirants was lost as part of the general process whereby initial s + voiceless stops became initial voiceless spirants. For further details, see the discussion of the first stage of this sound change: voiceless stops became spirants after initial [s]. Based on Noldorin evidence, it seems the second stage of this sound change occurred after the Old Noldorin/Old Sindarin period:
- ᴹ✶spangā > ON. sphanga > N. fang “beard” (Ety/SPÁNAG).
- ᴹ✶stankā > ON. sthanka > N. thanc “cleft, split” (Ety/STAK).
- ᴹ✶skelnā > ON. skhella > N. hell “naked” (Ety/SKEL).
As the last example shows, this change must have occurred before initial [x-] became [h-]: skh- > kh- (or ch-) > h-.
Conceptual Development: See the discussion in the entry on how voiceless stops became spirants after initial [s].
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