Consonant-induced sound changes in stressed vowels in Romance

The book investigates historical patterns of vowel diphthongization, assimilation and dissimilation induced by consonants - mostly (alveolo)palatals - in Romance. Compiling data from dialectal descriptions, old documentary sources and experimental phonetic studies, it explains why certain vowels undergo raising assimilation before (alveolo)palatal consonants more than others. It also suggests that in French, Francoprovençal, Occitan, Rhaetoromance and dialects from northern Italy, mid low vowel diphthongization before (alveolo)palatal consonants started out with the formation of non-canonical falling diphthongs through off-glide insertion, from which rising diphthongs could emerge at a later date (e.g., Upper Engadinian OCTO 'eight' > [ɔc] > [ɔ(ə̯)c] > [wac]). Both diphthongal types, rather than canonical falling diphthongs with a palatal off-glide, could also give rise to high vowels (dialectal French [li]

Author: Daniel Recasens
Publisher: de Gruyter
Published: 02/20/2023
Pages: 538
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 2.22lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 1.38d
ISBN13: 9783111000459
ISBN10: 3111000451
BISAC Categories:
- Foreign Language Study | Romance Languages (Other)
- Language Arts & Disciplines | Linguistics | Historical & Comparative
- Language Arts & Disciplines | Linguistics | Phonetics & Phonology

About the Author

Daniel Recasens, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.