U+02B7 "ʷ" Modifier Letter Small W Unicode Character

U+02B7 "ʷ" Modifier Letter Small W is a superscript or raised version of the lowercase letter w, classified as a combining diacritical mark in the Spacing Modifier Letters block. It is primarily used in linguistic transcriptions, particularly in phonetics and phonology, to indicate labialization, a secondary articulation where sounds are produced with rounded or protruded lips, as seen in the International Phonetic Alphabet to modify consonants like kʷ or ɡʷ. This character also appears in some orthographies for minority languages and in transcriptions of ancient or reconstructed languages to denote a w-like offglide or coarticulation.