depalatalize
|de-pal-a-ta-lize|
/ˌdiːˈpælətəˌlaɪz/
remove palatal quality
Etymology
'depalatalize' originates from Modern English, formed by the prefix 'de-' (from Latin 'de-', meaning 'remove' or 'reverse') + 'palatalize' (see below); 'palatalize' ultimately comes from Latin 'palatum' meaning 'palate'.
'palatum' (Latin) > Old French/Medieval forms related to 'palat-' > Middle English 'palate' > adjective 'palatal' > verb 'palatalize' (palatal + -ize) > Modern English formed 'depalatalize' by adding the prefix 'de-' to mean reversal of that process.
Initially related to 'palatal' or 'palate' (physical roof of the mouth); over time 'palatalize' came to mean 'make (a consonant) palatal' and 'depalatalize' specifically came to mean 'remove that palatal quality' — this technical linguistic meaning has been stable.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the process or result of depalatalizing a sound; removal of palatalization.
The depalatalization of the consonant occurred over several generations.
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Antonyms
Verb 1
to remove palatalization from a sound; to change a palatal (or palatalized) consonant so that it loses its palatal quality.
In some historical sound changes, speakers depalatalize affricates to produce plain stops.
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Last updated: 2025/12/18 02:02