Remarks on Armeno-Kipchak ‹խ› /χ/

Abstract

In the Armeno-Kipchak literature, the existence of the voiceless velar fricative/χ/, written as‹ խ› kheh, has often been studied in a cursory way. Scholars consider it either a spirantized version of/ḳ/, a graphic equation such as‹ ق›=‹ խ›, or an Armenian phonetic adaptation. None of these are detailed observations. Therefore, we attempt to elucidate Armeno-Kipchak‹ խ›/χ/by inquiring whether it was a trace of Turkic spirantization or an Armenian sound substitution.