zetacism

English

Etymology

From zeta +‎ -cism (phenomenon related to a specific phoneme).

Noun

zetacism (uncountable)

1. (linguistics) A sound change converting a consonant into /z/, the voiced alveolar sibilant.
   • 1860, Leonhard Tafel, Latin Pronunciation and the Latin Alphabet, page 161:

     In the Lettish language, which partakes altogether of a more modern character, the zetacism seizes the dentals, gutterals ^[sic], sibilants and liquids […]

   • 1997, Calgary Working Papers in Linguistics, volumes 19-21, page 63:

     Alternately, it was proposed that the reverse processes of sigmatism (the reverse of lambdacism) and zetacism (the reverse of rhotacism) may more accurately describe the alternations seen.

2. (linguistics) The lack of a sound change in a language when languages in the same family undergo rhotacism.

See also

• rhotacism

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French zétacisme.

Noun

zetacism n (uncountable)

1. zetacism

Declension

declension of zetacism (singular only)

	singular
n gender	indefinite articulation	definite articulation
nominative/accusative	(un) zetacism	zetacismul
genitive/dative	(unui) zetacism	zetacismului
vocative	zetacismule

References

• zetacism in Academia Română, Micul dicționar academic, ediția a II-a, Bucharest: Univers Enciclopedic, 2010. →ISBN