Proto-Northern-Romance (MGR): Difference between revisions
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== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
Proto-Northern Romance is a reconstructed language. It is the posited common ancestor of today's Northern Romance languages (see below), sometimes known as the Germanican languages, that developed in northwestern Europe from the local variant of Vulgar Latin. | Proto-Northern Romance is a reconstructed language. It is the posited common ancestor of today's Northern Romance languages (see below), sometimes known as the Germanican languages, that developed in northwestern Europe from the local variant of Vulgar Latin. | ||
==== Modern Descendents ==== | ==== Modern Descendents ==== | ||
* ''{Rom-English}'' | * ''{Rom-English}'' | ||
| Line 36: | Line 34: | ||
* ''{Rom-Luxembourgish}'' | * ''{Rom-Luxembourgish}'' | ||
* ''{Rom-Yiddish}'' | * ''{Rom-Yiddish}'' | ||
== Phonology == | == Phonology == | ||
| Line 64: | Line 59: | ||
<small>¹The stop allophones occured in initial position or when geminated. In other positions b d and g are realised as fricatives. | <small>¹The stop allophones occured in initial position or when geminated. In other positions b d and g are realised as fricatives. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
=== Vowels === | === Vowels === | ||
| Line 87: | Line 81: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
=== Phonological History === | === Phonological History === | ||
==== Earliest Developments, Gallo-Romance/Germano-Romance Split ==== | ==== Earliest Developments, Gallo-Romance/Germano-Romance Split ==== | ||
The earliest linguistic developments in Germania paralleled those in neighbouring Gaul. A more detailed description of Vulgar Latin and its development in Gaul can be found elsewhere. | The earliest linguistic developments in Germania paralleled those in neighbouring Gaul. A more detailed description of Vulgar Latin and its development in Gaul can be found elsewhere. | ||
The differing substratum in Germania however ultimately led to a divergence of Gallo- and Germano-Romance dialects from around the 2nd century CE. | The differing substratum in Germania however ultimately led to a divergence of Gallo- and Germano-Romance dialects from around the 2nd century CE. | ||
One of the earliest Northern Romance developments that marks the split with Western Romance is the further development of the Vulgar Latin vowel system, as outlined below. N-Rom also did not take part in the intervocalic lenition undergone by all the W-Rom dialects. | One of the earliest Northern Romance developments that marks the split with Western Romance is the further development of the Vulgar Latin vowel system, as outlined below. N-Rom also did not take part in the intervocalic lenition undergone by all the W-Rom dialects. | ||
Also distinctive is that the palatisation of stops before front vowels, a common feature of W-Rom, is not present in N-Rom where such consonants were instead geminated. Since such palatisation is singularly lacking in N-Rom despite the fact that very early evidence exists for paltisation in Latin, it is thought that not only did this feature not develop further in N-Rom but that existing palatised consonants must have reverted to pure stops. The generally accepted hypothesis for this phenomenon is that palatised consonants did not exist in the languages of Pre-Roman Germania, and this exerted a strong substratic influence causing their elimination in N-Rom. | Also distinctive is that the palatisation of stops before front vowels, a common feature of W-Rom, is not present in N-Rom where such consonants were instead geminated. Since such palatisation is singularly lacking in N-Rom despite the fact that very early evidence exists for paltisation in Latin, it is thought that not only did this feature not develop further in N-Rom but that existing palatised consonants must have reverted to pure stops. The generally accepted hypothesis for this phenomenon is that palatised consonants did not exist in the languages of Pre-Roman Germania, and this exerted a strong substratic influence causing their elimination in N-Rom. | ||
The final major defining feature of early Proto-Northern Romance is the change in stress from the penult or antepenult to the word stem. | The final major defining feature of early Proto-Northern Romance is the change in stress from the penult or antepenult to the word stem. | ||
==== Stress ==== | ==== Stress ==== | ||
Pimary stress in Proto-Northern Romance moved to the word stem in all instances. Formerly stressed vowels retained a slight, secondary stress. For example: ''haˈbēmus'' > ''ˈhāˌbīms''. The change in stress coupled with the syncope of unstressed vowels had a considerable effect on morphology. | Pimary stress in Proto-Northern Romance moved to the word stem in all instances. Formerly stressed vowels retained a slight, secondary stress. For example: ''haˈbēmus'' > ''ˈhāˌbīms''. The change in stress coupled with the syncope of unstressed vowels had a considerable effect on morphology. | ||
==== Vowels ==== | ==== Vowels ==== | ||
The 10-vowel system of classical Latin had already, through a replacement of length distinctions with qualitative distinctions and subsequent merger of some qualities, evolved into a 7 or 8 vowel system in the Italo-Northwestern dialects of Vulgar Latin. | The 10-vowel system of classical Latin had already, through a replacement of length distinctions with qualitative distinctions and subsequent merger of some qualities, evolved into a 7 or 8 vowel system in the Italo-Northwestern dialects of Vulgar Latin. | ||
In Proto-Northern Romance the vowel system developed further, and a phonemic length distinction began to re-emerge. | In Proto-Northern Romance the vowel system developed further, and a phonemic length distinction began to re-emerge. | ||
{{shaded table| title=Evolution of vowels in PNR | cols=3 }} | {{shaded table| title=Evolution of vowels in PNR | cols=3 }} | ||
|''VL''||||''PNR'' | |''VL''||||''PNR'' | ||
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| ɔ ||> || ɔː | | ɔ ||> || ɔː | ||
|} | |} | ||
<small>¹ From Latin diphthong /a͡i/. In other VL dialects this vowel merged with /ɛ/.</small | <small>¹ From Latin diphthong /a͡i/. In other VL dialects this vowel merged with /ɛ/.</small> | ||
===== Vowel Lengthening in Open Syllables ===== | ===== Vowel Lengthening in Open Syllables ===== | ||
Vowels in open syllables became lengthened: | Vowels in open syllables became lengthened: | ||
{{shaded table| title=Open Syllable Lengthening | cols=3 }} | {{shaded table| title=Open Syllable Lengthening | cols=3 }} | ||
| ɪ ||> || iː | | ɪ ||> || iː | ||
| Line 145: | Line 136: | ||
| ʊ ||> || oː | | ʊ ||> || oː | ||
|} | |} | ||
===== A-Mutation ===== | ===== A-Mutation ===== | ||
A short high vowel (/ɪ/ or /ʊ/) was lowered when the following syllable contained a non-high vowel (/aː/, /eː/, /ɛː/, or /ɔː/). The high vowel was not lowered, however, if /j/ intervened between it and the following non-high vowel. An intervening nasal consonant followed by a consonant of any kind also blocked the process. | A short high vowel (/ɪ/ or /ʊ/) was lowered when the following syllable contained a non-high vowel (/aː/, /eː/, /ɛː/, or /ɔː/). The high vowel was not lowered, however, if /j/ intervened between it and the following non-high vowel. An intervening nasal consonant followed by a consonant of any kind also blocked the process. | ||
{{shaded table| title=A-Mutation | cols=11 }} | {{shaded table| title=A-Mutation | cols=11 }} | ||
| ɪ ||> || e | | ɪ ||> || e | ||
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| ʊ ||> || ɔ | | ʊ ||> || ɔ | ||
|} | |} | ||
===== Vowel Breaking ===== | ===== Vowel Breaking ===== | ||
Some long vowels broke and became diphthongs. | Some long vowels broke and became diphthongs. | ||
{{shaded table| title=Vowel Breaking | cols=3 }} | {{shaded table| title=Vowel Breaking | cols=3 }} | ||
| ɛː ||> || ɛ͡ə | | ɛː ||> || ɛ͡ə | ||
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| ɔː ||> || ɔ͡ə | | ɔː ||> || ɔ͡ə | ||
|} | |} | ||
===== Vowel Syncope in Non-Stressed Syllables ===== | ===== Vowel Syncope in Non-Stressed Syllables ===== | ||
The process of vowel elision began prior to the separate development of Proto-Northern Romance, such as with the loss of unstressed vowels between an obstruent and a liquid (e.g. Populus > Poplus). | The process of vowel elision began prior to the separate development of Proto-Northern Romance, such as with the loss of unstressed vowels between an obstruent and a liquid (e.g. Populus > Poplus). | ||
This syncope continued in Proto-Northern Romance, with the loss of non-initial pretonic vowels, and unstressed post-tonic e and u. | This syncope continued in Proto-Northern Romance, with the loss of non-initial pretonic vowels, and unstressed post-tonic e and u. | ||
==== Consonants ==== | ==== Consonants ==== | ||
Consonants underwent many changes in their evolution from Vulgar Latin. The main changes are summarised below. | Consonants underwent many changes in their evolution from Vulgar Latin. The main changes are summarised below. | ||
===== Assimilation in Consonant Clusters ===== | ===== Assimilation in Consonant Clusters ===== | ||
In common with Gallo-Romance, the Germano-Romance dialects assimilated some consonant clusters. | In common with Gallo-Romance, the Germano-Romance dialects assimilated some consonant clusters. | ||
{{shaded table| title=Assimilation | cols=3 }} | {{shaded table| title=Assimilation | cols=3 }} | ||
|''VL''||||''PNR'' | |''VL''||||''PNR'' | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
===== Simplification of Consonant Clusters ===== | ===== Simplification of Consonant Clusters ===== | ||
Certain consonant clusters were simplified. | Certain consonant clusters were simplified. | ||
{{shaded table| title=Simplification | cols=3 }} | {{shaded table| title=Simplification | cols=3 }} | ||
|''VL''||||''PNR'' | |''VL''||||''PNR'' | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
<small>¹ Except before /a/ or /aː/</small | <small>¹ Except before /a/ or /aː/</small> | ||
===== Loss of Final Consonants ===== | ===== Loss of Final Consonants ===== | ||
Final m had been lost since classical times. In Proto-Northern Romance final n was also lost (except in monosyllables) from a very early stage and, later, final d. The loss of final d is attributed to the Gallo-Romance super- / adstratum. | Final m had been lost since classical times. In Proto-Northern Romance final n was also lost (except in monosyllables) from a very early stage and, later, final d. The loss of final d is attributed to the Gallo-Romance super- / adstratum. | ||
===== Interchange of w, b and u ===== | ===== Interchange of w, b and u ===== | ||
The pronunciation of b and w had begun to merge in Vulgar Latin, as the two sounds approached /β/. In the Germanian dialects it appears w remained perhaps more distinct while b developed two allophones, [b] and [β], depending on position. | The pronunciation of b and w had begun to merge in Vulgar Latin, as the two sounds approached /β/. In the Germanian dialects it appears w remained perhaps more distinct while b developed two allophones, [b] and [β], depending on position. | ||
Ultimately there was some interchange of b and w, depending on position, or vocalisation of either to u, ū or au. | Ultimately there was some interchange of b and w, depending on position, or vocalisation of either to u, ū or au. | ||
* b or w between i or e and a short vowel vocalised to u | * b or w between i or e and a short vowel vocalised to u | ||
* b or w between u or ō and a short vowel vocalised to ū | * b or w between u or ō and a short vowel vocalised to ū | ||
| Line 232: | Line 219: | ||
* b after m, w after any consonant (except m), and b or w in initial position remained unchanged | * b after m, w after any consonant (except m), and b or w in initial position remained unchanged | ||
* all other instances of b and w merged to [β] | * all other instances of b and w merged to [β] | ||
===== Consonant Shifts ===== | ===== Consonant Shifts ===== | ||
The following sound shifts are also attested in Proto-Northern Romance: | The following sound shifts are also attested in Proto-Northern Romance: | ||
{{shaded table| title=Consonant Shifts | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Consonant Shifts | cols=4 }} | ||
|''VL''||||''PNR''|| | |''VL''||||''PNR''|| | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
<small>¹ Presumably via an intermediate stage as /ɸ/.</small | <small>¹ Presumably via an intermediate stage as /ɸ/.</small> | ||
===== Gemination ===== | ===== Gemination ===== | ||
Any consonant (except r) was geminated when immediately followed by j. | Any consonant (except r) was geminated when immediately followed by j. | ||
* *anima'''''lj'''''ōru > āmma'''''ll'''''ōr | * *anima'''''lj'''''ōru > āmma'''''ll'''''ōr | ||
* *ra'''''tj'''''ōnis > ra'''''tt'''''ōnes | * *ra'''''tj'''''ōnis > ra'''''tt'''''ōnes | ||
== Morphology == | == Morphology == | ||
'''''Note with regard to spelling:''''' | '''''Note with regard to spelling:''''' | ||
''The written language of the literate Roman inhabitants of Germania was Classical Latin. Proto-Northern Romance was never transcribed, but rather was the local spoken dialect of Vulgar Latin.'' | ''The written language of the literate Roman inhabitants of Germania was Classical Latin. Proto-Northern Romance was never transcribed, but rather was the local spoken dialect of Vulgar Latin.'' | ||
''As any spelling of Proto-Northern Romance is purely hypothetical, it allows a certain freedom when transcribing the language. For this reason, and ease of reading, modern spelling conventions are used in transcribing the semivowels /j/ and /w/ and those sounds not present in Classical Latin.'' | ''As any spelling of Proto-Northern Romance is purely hypothetical, it allows a certain freedom when transcribing the language. For this reason, and ease of reading, modern spelling conventions are used in transcribing the semivowels /j/ and /w/ and those sounds not present in Classical Latin.'' | ||
:/j/       ''j'' | :/j/       ''j'' | ||
:/w/       ''w'' | :/w/       ''w'' | ||
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:/ð/       ''dh'' | :/ð/       ''dh'' | ||
:/x/       ''ch'' | :/x/       ''ch'' | ||
''The Proto-Northern Romance phoneme'' /b/ ''was pronounced either as frictaive'' [β] ''or stop'' [b]'', depending on position (see phonology). Both allophones here are transcribed as ''b''. Similarly ''/g/'', which could be'' [ɣ] ''or'' [g]'', is transcribed as ''g''.'' | ''The Proto-Northern Romance phoneme'' /b/ ''was pronounced either as frictaive'' [β] ''or stop'' [b]'', depending on position (see phonology). Both allophones here are transcribed as ''b''. Similarly ''/g/'', which could be'' [ɣ] ''or'' [g]'', is transcribed as ''g''.'' | ||
=== Nouns === | === Nouns === | ||
Latin's seven case system had reduced to four in Proto-Northern Romance – nominative, accusative, genitive and dative. | Latin's seven case system had reduced to four in Proto-Northern Romance – nominative, accusative, genitive and dative. | ||
The neuter gender was lost, neuter nouns on the whole being reanalysed as masculine. | The neuter gender was lost, neuter nouns on the whole being reanalysed as masculine. | ||
==== 1st Declension ==== | ==== 1st Declension ==== | ||
=====Group I - Mainly feminine, with some masculine exceptions. Derived from Latin 1st and 5th declensions.===== | =====Group I - Mainly feminine, with some masculine exceptions. Derived from Latin 1st and 5th declensions.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=1st Declension – Group I | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=1st Declension – Group I | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 317: | Line 296: | ||
:* {{SC|*dia, *diae}} (< {{SC|*diēs, diēī}}) | :* {{SC|*dia, *diae}} (< {{SC|*diēs, diēī}}) | ||
''Notes:'' | ''Notes:'' | ||
:The Latin paradigms ''Aenēas, Aenēae'' and ''Anchīses, Anchīsae'' have regularised their nominative singular forms by anaolgy, and thereby merged with the above. | :The Latin paradigms ''Aenēas, Aenēae'' and ''Anchīses, Anchīsae'' have regularised their nominative singular forms by anaolgy, and thereby merged with the above. | ||
=====Group II - Feminine. Derived from Latin 1st declension.===== | =====Group II - Feminine. Derived from Latin 1st declension.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=1st Declension – Group II | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=1st Declension – Group II | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 335: | Line 313: | ||
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above: | The following Latin paradigm declines per the above: | ||
:* {{SC|crambē, crambes}} | :* {{SC|crambē, crambes}} | ||
==== 2nd Declension ==== | ==== 2nd Declension ==== | ||
=====Group I - Masculine. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | =====Group I - Masculine. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=2nd Declension – Group I | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=2nd Declension – Group I | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 354: | Line 330: | ||
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above:' | The following Latin paradigm declines per the above:' | ||
:* {{SC|pater, patris}} | :* {{SC|pater, patris}} | ||
=====Group II - Masculine. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | =====Group II - Masculine. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=2nd Declension – Group II | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=2nd Declension – Group II | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 371: | Line 347: | ||
:* {{SC|*āeris, āeris}} (< {{SC|āēr, āeris}}) | :* {{SC|*āeris, āeris}} (< {{SC|āēr, āeris}}) | ||
:* {{SC|*Periclis, Periclis}} (<{{SC|Periclēs, Periclis}}) | :* {{SC|*Periclis, Periclis}} (<{{SC|Periclēs, Periclis}}) | ||
=====Group III - Masculine. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | =====Group III - Masculine. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=2nd Declension – Group III | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=2nd Declension – Group III | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 387: | Line 363: | ||
:* {{SC|*amantis, amantis}} (< {{SC|amans, amantis}}) | :* {{SC|*amantis, amantis}} (< {{SC|amans, amantis}}) | ||
:* {{SC|*hērōis, hērōis}} (< {{SC|hērōs, hērōis}}) | :* {{SC|*hērōis, hērōis}} (< {{SC|hērōs, hērōis}}) | ||
=====Group IV - Masculine, including originally feminine Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th declensions.===== | =====Group IV - Masculine, including originally feminine Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th declensions.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=2nd Declension – Group IV | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=2nd Declension – Group IV | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 405: | Line 381: | ||
:* {{SC|*Dēlus, Dēlī}} (< {{SC|Dēlos, Dēlī}}) | :* {{SC|*Dēlus, Dēlī}} (< {{SC|Dēlos, Dēlī}}) | ||
:* {{SC|Lūcius, Lūcī}} | :* {{SC|Lūcius, Lūcī}} | ||
=====Group V - Masculine, including originally feminine Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 2nd declension===== | =====Group V - Masculine, including originally feminine Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 2nd declension===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=2nd Declension – Group V | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=2nd Declension – Group V | cols=4 }} | ||
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The following Latin paradigm declines per the above | The following Latin paradigm declines per the above | ||
:* {{SC|puer, puerī}} | :* {{SC|puer, puerī}} | ||
=====Group VI - Masculine, including originally feminine Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 2nd declension===== | =====Group VI - Masculine, including originally feminine Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 2nd declension===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=2nd Declension – Group VI | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=2nd Declension – Group VI | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 435: | Line 411: | ||
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above | The following Latin paradigm declines per the above | ||
:* {{SC|liber, librī}} | :* {{SC|liber, librī}} | ||
==== 3rd Declension ==== | ==== 3rd Declension ==== | ||
=====Group I - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | =====Group I - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=3rd Declension – Group I | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=3rd Declension – Group I | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 454: | Line 428: | ||
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin): | The following Latin paradigm declines per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin): | ||
:* {{SC|*nōme, nōminis}} (< {{SC|nōmen, nōminis}}) | :* {{SC|*nōme, nōminis}} (< {{SC|nōmen, nōminis}}) | ||
=====Group II - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | =====Group II - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=3rd Declension – Group II | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=3rd Declension – Group II | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 470: | Line 444: | ||
:* {{SC|*animālis, *animālis}} (< {{SC|animāl, animālīs}}) | :* {{SC|*animālis, *animālis}} (< {{SC|animāl, animālīs}}) | ||
:* {{SC|*poēmatis, poēmatis}} (< {{SC|poēma, poēmatis}}) | :* {{SC|*poēmatis, poēmatis}} (< {{SC|poēma, poēmatis}}) | ||
=====Group III - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.=====' | =====Group III - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.=====' | ||
{{shaded table| title=3rd Declension – Group III | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=3rd Declension – Group III | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 485: | Line 459: | ||
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin): | The following Latin paradigm declines per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin): | ||
:* {{SC|opus, operis}} | :* {{SC|opus, operis}} | ||
=====Group IV - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.=====' | =====Group IV - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.=====' | ||
{{shaded table| title=3rd Declension – Group IV | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=3rd Declension – Group IV | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 500: | Line 474: | ||
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin): | The following Latin paradigm declines per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin): | ||
:* {{SC|*ossus, ossis}} (< {{SC|os, ossis}}) | :* {{SC|*ossus, ossis}} (< {{SC|os, ossis}}) | ||
=====Group V - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | =====Group V - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=3rd Declension – Group V | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=3rd Declension – Group V | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 515: | Line 489: | ||
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above: | The following Latin paradigm declines per the above: | ||
:* {{SC|rēte, rētis}} | :* {{SC|rēte, rētis}} | ||
=====Group VI - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th declensions.===== | =====Group VI - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th declensions.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=3rd Declension – Group VI | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=3rd Declension – Group VI | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 531: | Line 505: | ||
:* {{SC|*dōnus, dōnī}} (< {{SC|dōnum, dōnī}}) | :* {{SC|*dōnus, dōnī}} (< {{SC|dōnum, dōnī}}) | ||
:* {{SC|*genūus, *genuī}} (< {{SC|genū, genūs}}) | :* {{SC|*genūus, *genuī}} (< {{SC|genū, genūs}}) | ||
==== 4th Declension ==== | ==== 4th Declension ==== | ||
'=====Group I - Feminine, including originally masculine Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd and 5th declensions.===== | '=====Group I - Feminine, including originally masculine Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd and 5th declensions.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=4th Declension – Group I | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=4th Declension – Group I | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 555: | Line 527: | ||
:* {{SC|rēs, *reis}} (< {{SC|rēs, reī}}) | :* {{SC|rēs, *reis}} (< {{SC|rēs, reī}}) | ||
:* {{SC|*Naiadis, Naiadis}} (< {{SC|Naias, Naiadis}}) | :* {{SC|*Naiadis, Naiadis}} (< {{SC|Naias, Naiadis}}) | ||
=====Group II - Feminine. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | =====Group II - Feminine. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=4th Declension – Group II | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=4th Declension – Group II | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 571: | Line 543: | ||
:* {{SC|*mōris, mōris}} (< {{SC|mōs, mōris}}) | :* {{SC|*mōris, mōris}} (< {{SC|mōs, mōris}}) | ||
:* {{SC|*ratiōnis, ratiōnis}} (< {{SC|ratiō, ratiōnis}}) | :* {{SC|*ratiōnis, ratiōnis}} (< {{SC|ratiō, ratiōnis}}) | ||
=== Pronouns === | === Pronouns === | ||
==== Nominative ==== | ==== Nominative ==== | ||
{{shaded table| title=Nominative Pronouns | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Nominative Pronouns | cols=4 }} | ||
|||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | |||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | ||
| Line 590: | Line 560: | ||
|||''3rd Person, feminine''|| ella|| ellas | |||''3rd Person, feminine''|| ella|| ellas | ||
|} | |} | ||
==== Accusative and Reflexive ==== | ==== Accusative and Reflexive ==== | ||
{{shaded table| title=Accusative / Reflexive Pronouns | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Accusative / Reflexive Pronouns | cols=4 }} | ||
|||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | |||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | ||
| Line 603: | Line 572: | ||
|||''3rd Person''|| si || si | |||''3rd Person''|| si || si | ||
|} | |} | ||
==== Genitive/Possessive ==== | ==== Genitive/Possessive ==== | ||
In Proto-Northern Romance a single pronominal declension came to serve. | In Proto-Northern Romance a single pronominal declension came to serve. | ||
{{shaded table| title=Genitive / Possessive Pronouns | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Genitive / Possessive Pronouns | cols=4 }} | ||
|||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | |||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | ||
| Line 623: | Line 591: | ||
|||''3rd Person, feminine''|| sa || | |||''3rd Person, feminine''|| sa || | ||
|} | |} | ||
==== Dative ==== | ==== Dative ==== | ||
{{shaded table| title=Dative Pronouns | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Dative Pronouns | cols=4 }} | ||
|||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | |||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | ||
| Line 636: | Line 603: | ||
|||''3rd Person''|| sī || sī | |||''3rd Person''|| sī || sī | ||
|} | |} | ||
==== Interrogative and Relative ==== | ==== Interrogative and Relative ==== | ||
{{shaded table| title=Interrogative / Relative Pronouns | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Interrogative / Relative Pronouns | cols=4 }} | ||
|||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | |||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | ||
| Line 657: | Line 623: | ||
|||''Dative, feminine''|| quāj || | |||''Dative, feminine''|| quāj || | ||
|} | |} | ||
=== Verbs === | === Verbs === | ||
In the transition from Latin to Proto-Northern Romance, verbs went through several syntactic and semantic changes. Most of the distinctions present in classical Latin continued to be made, but synthetic forms were often replaced with analytic ones. Other verb forms changed meaning, and new forms also appeared. | In the transition from Latin to Proto-Northern Romance, verbs went through several syntactic and semantic changes. Most of the distinctions present in classical Latin continued to be made, but synthetic forms were often replaced with analytic ones. Other verb forms changed meaning, and new forms also appeared. | ||
In common with the other Romance dialects, Latin's synthetic passive voice was completely lost, to be replaced by a periphrastic form utilising the appropriately conjugated form of the verb 'to be' plus the past participle. | In common with the other Romance dialects, Latin's synthetic passive voice was completely lost, to be replaced by a periphrastic form utilising the appropriately conjugated form of the verb 'to be' plus the past participle. | ||
Similar new periphrastic forms also developed for the future tense, utilising the verb 'to come' plus the infinitive, and the perfect tense, using 'to have' and the past participle. | Similar new periphrastic forms also developed for the future tense, utilising the verb 'to come' plus the infinitive, and the perfect tense, using 'to have' and the past participle. | ||
Latin's perfect tense had also functioned as a preterite (simple past). Following the development of a new periphrastic perfect tense (see above), use of the original perfect form continued but became limited solely to its preterite meaning. | Latin's perfect tense had also functioned as a preterite (simple past). Following the development of a new periphrastic perfect tense (see above), use of the original perfect form continued but became limited solely to its preterite meaning. | ||
Latin's imperfect tense was completely lost in Proto-Northern Romance. | Latin's imperfect tense was completely lost in Proto-Northern Romance. | ||
==== Indicative Mood ==== | ==== Indicative Mood ==== | ||
===== 1st Conjugation ===== | ===== 1st Conjugation ===== | ||
| Line 683: | Line 646: | ||
|||''3rd Person''||– at||– ant | |||''3rd Person''||– at||– ant | ||
|} | |} | ||
{{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 694: | Line 657: | ||
|||''3rd Person''||– aut||– ārnt | |||''3rd Person''||– aut||– ārnt | ||
|} | |} | ||
A small group of 1st conjugation verbs, primarily those with stems ending in – d, formed their preterite indicative like 2ii verbs. They differed however in the 3rd person singular. | A small group of 1st conjugation verbs, primarily those with stems ending in – d, formed their preterite indicative like 2ii verbs. They differed however in the 3rd person singular. | ||
{{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 705: | Line 668: | ||
|||''3rd Person''||...dh – iss||...d – dīrnt | |||''3rd Person''||...dh – iss||...d – dīrnt | ||
|} | |} | ||
===== 2nd Conjugation ===== | ===== 2nd Conjugation ===== | ||
| Line 719: | Line 680: | ||
|||''3rd Person''||– et||– int | |||''3rd Person''||– et||– int | ||
|} | |} | ||
=====Group I - Preterite in '''''– wī''''' etc.===== | =====Group I - Preterite in '''''– wī''''' etc.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 732: | Line 693: | ||
|} | |} | ||
''2i group derived from Latin 2nd conjugation.'' | ''2i group derived from Latin 2nd conjugation.'' | ||
=====Group II - Preterite in '''''– ī''''' etc.===== | =====Group II - Preterite in '''''– ī''''' etc.===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 745: | Line 705: | ||
|} | |} | ||
''2ii group derived from Latin 4th conjugation.'' | ''2ii group derived from Latin 4th conjugation.'' | ||
===== 3rd Conjugation ===== | ===== 3rd Conjugation ===== | ||
| Line 758: | Line 716: | ||
|||''3rd Person''||– et||– (e)nt | |||''3rd Person''||– et||– (e)nt | ||
|} | |} | ||
{{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | ||
|||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | |||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | ||
| Line 768: | Line 726: | ||
|||''3rd Person''||– set||– sīrnt | |||''3rd Person''||– set||– sīrnt | ||
|} | |} | ||
==== Subjunctive Mood ==== | ==== Subjunctive Mood ==== | ||
| Line 782: | Line 738: | ||
|||''3rd Person''||– et||– int | |||''3rd Person''||– et||– int | ||
|} | |} | ||
{{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | ||
|||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | |||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | ||
| Line 792: | Line 748: | ||
|||''3rd Person''||– wisst||– wissint | |||''3rd Person''||– wisst||– wissint | ||
|} | |} | ||
===== 2nd Conjugation ===== | ===== 2nd Conjugation ===== | ||
'''''Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th conjugations''''' | '''''Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th conjugations''''' | ||
| Line 805: | Line 760: | ||
|||''3rd Person''||– at||– ant | |||''3rd Person''||– at||– ant | ||
|} | |} | ||
===== Group I - Preterite 1st person plural in '''''– wissīms''===== | ===== Group I - Preterite 1st person plural in '''''– wissīms''===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 816: | Line 771: | ||
|||''3rd Person''||– wisst||– wissint | |||''3rd Person''||– wisst||– wissint | ||
|} | |} | ||
''2i group derived from Latin 2nd conjugation.'' | ''2i group derived from Latin 2nd conjugation.'' | ||
===== Group II - Preterite 1st person plural in '''''– iusīms''===== | ===== Group II - Preterite 1st person plural in '''''– iusīms''===== | ||
{{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 829: | Line 784: | ||
|} | |} | ||
''2ii group derived from Latin 4th conjugation.'' | ''2ii group derived from Latin 4th conjugation.'' | ||
===== 3rd Conjugation ===== | ===== 3rd Conjugation ===== | ||
| Line 842: | Line 795: | ||
|||''3rd Person''||– at||– ant | |||''3rd Person''||– at||– ant | ||
|} | |} | ||
{{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | ||
|||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | |||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | ||
| Line 852: | Line 805: | ||
|||''3rd Person''||– isst||– issint | |||''3rd Person''||– isst||– issint | ||
|} | |} | ||
==== Imperative Mood ==== | ==== Imperative Mood ==== | ||
| Line 863: | Line 814: | ||
|||''3rd Conjugation''||||– e | |||''3rd Conjugation''||||– e | ||
|} | |} | ||
{{shaded table| title=Plural | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Plural | cols=4 }} | ||
|||''1st Conjugation''||||– āt | |||''1st Conjugation''||||– āt | ||
| Line 871: | Line 822: | ||
|||''3rd Conjugation''||||– t | |||''3rd Conjugation''||||– t | ||
|} | |} | ||
==== Infinitive and Participles ==== | ==== Infinitive and Participles ==== | ||
{{shaded table| title=Infinitive | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Infinitive | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 881: | Line 831: | ||
|||''3rd Conjugation''||||– re | |||''3rd Conjugation''||||– re | ||
|} | |} | ||
{{shaded table| title=Past Participle | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Past Participle | cols=4 }} | ||
|''1st Conjugation''||||cun – āt | |''1st Conjugation''||||cun – āt | ||
| Line 889: | Line 839: | ||
|''3rd Conjugation''||||cun – t | |''3rd Conjugation''||||cun – t | ||
|} | |} | ||
During the Proto-Northern Romance period the past particple increasingly came to be prefixed with *cun- (from the Latin verbal prefix {{SC|con}}-). The precise semantic purpose of the prefix is unclear, although it clearly served to differentiate the past participle from other verb forms. It is possible the use of such a prefix had its origins in the pre-Roman languages of the Germanian tribes. | During the Proto-Northern Romance period the past particple increasingly came to be prefixed with *cun- (from the Latin verbal prefix {{SC|con}}-). The precise semantic purpose of the prefix is unclear, although it clearly served to differentiate the past participle from other verb forms. It is possible the use of such a prefix had its origins in the pre-Roman languages of the Germanian tribes. | ||
{{shaded table| title=Passive Participle | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Passive Participle | cols=4 }} | ||
|||||''Masculine''||''Feminine'' | |||||''Masculine''||''Feminine'' | ||
| Line 900: | Line 850: | ||
|||''3rd Conjugation''|| – ts || – ta | |||''3rd Conjugation''|| – ts || – ta | ||
|} | |} | ||
The passive participle agrees with the gender of the patient. | The passive participle agrees with the gender of the patient. | ||
==== Auxilliary Verbs ==== | ==== Auxilliary Verbs ==== | ||
| Line 915: | Line 863: | ||
|||''3rd Person''|| est || sunt | |||''3rd Person''|| est || sunt | ||
|} | |} | ||
{{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | ||
|||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | |||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | ||
| Line 925: | Line 873: | ||
|||''3rd Person''|| thut || thournt | |||''3rd Person''|| thut || thournt | ||
|} | |} | ||
''Esttre'' was used in conjunction with a passive participle to create the passive voice. | ''Esttre'' was used in conjunction with a passive participle to create the passive voice. | ||
The passive participle agrees in gender with the patient. For example, ''<u>ella</u> est āmāt<u>a</u>'' (she is loved), ''<u>elle</u> tut dā<u>ts</u>'' (it was given). | The passive participle agrees in gender with the patient. For example, ''<u>ella</u> est āmāt<u>a</u>'' (she is loved), ''<u>elle</u> tut dā<u>ts</u>'' (it was given). | ||
'''Hābīre ''(to have)''''' | '''Hābīre ''(to have)''''' | ||
{{shaded table| title=Present | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Present | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 940: | Line 888: | ||
|||''3rd Person''|| haut || haunt | |||''3rd Person''|| haut || haunt | ||
|} | |} | ||
{{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | ||
|||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | |||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | ||
| Line 950: | Line 898: | ||
|||''3rd Person''|| houwet || houwīrnt | |||''3rd Person''|| houwet || houwīrnt | ||
|} | |} | ||
The present tense of ''hābīre'' was used in conjunction with a past participle to create the perfect: ''jo hāb cunthout'' (I have been). | The present tense of ''hābīre'' was used in conjunction with a past participle to create the perfect: ''jo hāb cunthout'' (I have been). | ||
The preterite of ''hābīre'' was used in conjunction with a past participle to create the pluperfect: ''wus houwīms cunwint'' (we had come). | The preterite of ''hābīre'' was used in conjunction with a past participle to create the pluperfect: ''wus houwīms cunwint'' (we had come). | ||
'''Weanīre ''(to come)''''' | '''Weanīre ''(to come)''''' | ||
{{shaded table| title=Present | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Present | cols=4 }} | ||
| Line 965: | Line 913: | ||
|||''3rd Person''|| weanet || weannt | |||''3rd Person''|| weanet || weannt | ||
|} | |} | ||
{{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | {{shaded table| title=Preterite (Simple Past) | cols=4 }} | ||
|||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | |||||''Singular''||''Plural'' | ||
| Line 975: | Line 923: | ||
|||''3rd Person''|| winwet || winwīrnt | |||''3rd Person''|| winwet || winwīrnt | ||
|} | |} | ||
The present tense of ''weanīre'' was used in conjunction with an infinitive to create the future: ''tu weanīs indūccre'' (you will lead). | The present tense of ''weanīre'' was used in conjunction with an infinitive to create the future: ''tu weanīs indūccre'' (you will lead). | ||
The preterite of ''weanīre'' was used in conjunction with an infinitive to create the conditional (i.e. 'future-in-the-past): ''jo winwi ferdhounāre'' (I would forgive). | The preterite of ''weanīre'' was used in conjunction with an infinitive to create the conditional (i.e. 'future-in-the-past): ''jo winwi ferdhounāre'' (I would forgive). | ||
Revision as of 01:51, 20 July 2008
| Proto-Northern-Romance *Roumānēc / *Jermānēc / Lingua Rūstica Germāniārum | |
| Spoken in: | northwestern Europe |
| Conworld: | Mundus Germaniae Romanae |
| Total speakers: | unknown |
| Genealogical classification: | Indo-European
|
| Basic word order: | SVO |
| Morphological type: | inflecting |
| Morphosyntactic alignment: | nominative-accusative |
| Writing system: | |
| Created by: | |
| P Collier, BP Jonsson | 2006+ |
Introduction
Proto-Northern Romance is a reconstructed language. It is the posited common ancestor of today's Northern Romance languages (see below), sometimes known as the Germanican languages, that developed in northwestern Europe from the local variant of Vulgar Latin.
Modern Descendents
- {Rom-English}
- {Rom-Scots}
- {Rom-Frisian}
- {Rom-Dutch}
- {Rom-Limburgish}
- {Rom-Afrikaans}
- Low Jermench
- (High) Jermench
- {Rom-Luxembourgish}
- {Rom-Yiddish}
Phonology
Consonants
| Consonants | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilabial | Labiodental | Dental | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Glottal | |||||||||||||
| Nasal | m | n | ŋ | ||||||||||||||||
| Plosive | p b ¹ | t d ¹ | k g ¹ | ||||||||||||||||
| Fricative | β ¹ | f | θ ð ¹ | s | x ɣ ¹ | h | |||||||||||||
| Approximant | w | j | |||||||||||||||||
| Trill | r | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lateral | l | ||||||||||||||||||
¹The stop allophones occured in initial position or when geminated. In other positions b d and g are realised as fricatives.
Vowels
| Vowels | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front | Near-front | Central | Near-back | Back | ||||||||
| High | iː | uː | ||||||||||
| Near-high | ɪ | ʊ | ||||||||||
| High-mid | e | oː | ||||||||||
| Low-mid | ɛ ɛː | ɔ ɔː | ||||||||||
| Low | a aː | |||||||||||
Phonological History
Earliest Developments, Gallo-Romance/Germano-Romance Split
The earliest linguistic developments in Germania paralleled those in neighbouring Gaul. A more detailed description of Vulgar Latin and its development in Gaul can be found elsewhere.
The differing substratum in Germania however ultimately led to a divergence of Gallo- and Germano-Romance dialects from around the 2nd century CE.
One of the earliest Northern Romance developments that marks the split with Western Romance is the further development of the Vulgar Latin vowel system, as outlined below. N-Rom also did not take part in the intervocalic lenition undergone by all the W-Rom dialects.
Also distinctive is that the palatisation of stops before front vowels, a common feature of W-Rom, is not present in N-Rom where such consonants were instead geminated. Since such palatisation is singularly lacking in N-Rom despite the fact that very early evidence exists for paltisation in Latin, it is thought that not only did this feature not develop further in N-Rom but that existing palatised consonants must have reverted to pure stops. The generally accepted hypothesis for this phenomenon is that palatised consonants did not exist in the languages of Pre-Roman Germania, and this exerted a strong substratic influence causing their elimination in N-Rom.
The final major defining feature of early Proto-Northern Romance is the change in stress from the penult or antepenult to the word stem.
Stress
Pimary stress in Proto-Northern Romance moved to the word stem in all instances. Formerly stressed vowels retained a slight, secondary stress. For example: haˈbēmus > ˈhāˌbīms. The change in stress coupled with the syncope of unstressed vowels had a considerable effect on morphology.
Vowels
The 10-vowel system of classical Latin had already, through a replacement of length distinctions with qualitative distinctions and subsequent merger of some qualities, evolved into a 7 or 8 vowel system in the Italo-Northwestern dialects of Vulgar Latin.
In Proto-Northern Romance the vowel system developed further, and a phonemic length distinction began to re-emerge.
| Evolution of vowels in PNR | ||
|---|---|---|
| VL | PNR | |
| ɪ | > | iː |
| e | > | ɪ |
| ɛ | > | ɛ |
| æː¹ | > | aː |
| a | > | a |
| ʊ | > | ɛ |
| o | > | ʊ |
| ɔ | > | ɔː |
¹ From Latin diphthong /a͡i/. In other VL dialects this vowel merged with /ɛ/.
Vowel Lengthening in Open Syllables
Vowels in open syllables became lengthened:
| Open Syllable Lengthening | ||
|---|---|---|
| ɪ | > | iː |
| ɛ | > | ɛː |
| a | > | aː |
| ʊ | > | oː |
A-Mutation
A short high vowel (/ɪ/ or /ʊ/) was lowered when the following syllable contained a non-high vowel (/aː/, /eː/, /ɛː/, or /ɔː/). The high vowel was not lowered, however, if /j/ intervened between it and the following non-high vowel. An intervening nasal consonant followed by a consonant of any kind also blocked the process.
| A-Mutation | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ɪ | > | e | ||||||||
| ʊ | > | ɔ | ||||||||
Vowel Breaking
Some long vowels broke and became diphthongs.
| Vowel Breaking | ||
|---|---|---|
| ɛː | > | ɛ͡ə |
| oː | > | o͡u |
| ɔː | > | ɔ͡ə |
Vowel Syncope in Non-Stressed Syllables
The process of vowel elision began prior to the separate development of Proto-Northern Romance, such as with the loss of unstressed vowels between an obstruent and a liquid (e.g. Populus > Poplus).
This syncope continued in Proto-Northern Romance, with the loss of non-initial pretonic vowels, and unstressed post-tonic e and u.
Consonants
Consonants underwent many changes in their evolution from Vulgar Latin. The main changes are summarised below.
Assimilation in Consonant Clusters
In common with Gallo-Romance, the Germano-Romance dialects assimilated some consonant clusters.
| Assimilation | ||
|---|---|---|
| VL | PNR | |
| tl | > | kl |
| bs | > | ps |
| bt | > | pt |
| skl | > | sl |
| nkt | > | nt |
Simplification of Consonant Clusters
Certain consonant clusters were simplified.
| Simplification | ||
|---|---|---|
| VL | PNR | |
| ns | > | s |
| ks | > | s |
| ls | > | s |
| mpt | > | nt |
| kw | > | k ¹ |
¹ Except before /a/ or /aː/
Loss of Final Consonants
Final m had been lost since classical times. In Proto-Northern Romance final n was also lost (except in monosyllables) from a very early stage and, later, final d. The loss of final d is attributed to the Gallo-Romance super- / adstratum.
Interchange of w, b and u
The pronunciation of b and w had begun to merge in Vulgar Latin, as the two sounds approached /β/. In the Germanian dialects it appears w remained perhaps more distinct while b developed two allophones, [b] and [β], depending on position.
Ultimately there was some interchange of b and w, depending on position, or vocalisation of either to u, ū or au.
- b or w between i or e and a short vowel vocalised to u
- b or w between u or ō and a short vowel vocalised to ū
- b or w between o, a or ā and a short vowel vocalised to au
- w before t vocalised to ū
- b after any obstruent shifted to w
- b before w shifted to w
- w after m shifted to b
- b after m, w after any consonant (except m), and b or w in initial position remained unchanged
- all other instances of b and w merged to [β]
Consonant Shifts
The following sound shifts are also attested in Proto-Northern Romance:
| Consonant Shifts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| VL | PNR | ||
| Any labial | > | f | before t |
| Any dental + t | > | ss | |
| ss | > | st | before r |
| f | > | θ | except before l |
| z | > | s | |
| p | > | f ¹ | |
| (s)sj | > | x | |
| x | > | h | between vowels |
| gj | > | dj | |
| dj | > | j | in initial position |
| g | > | j | before front vowels |
¹ Presumably via an intermediate stage as /ɸ/.
Gemination
Any consonant (except r) was geminated when immediately followed by j.
- *animaljōru > āmmallōr
- *ratjōnis > rattōnes
Morphology
Note with regard to spelling:
The written language of the literate Roman inhabitants of Germania was Classical Latin. Proto-Northern Romance was never transcribed, but rather was the local spoken dialect of Vulgar Latin.
As any spelling of Proto-Northern Romance is purely hypothetical, it allows a certain freedom when transcribing the language. For this reason, and ease of reading, modern spelling conventions are used in transcribing the semivowels /j/ and /w/ and those sounds not present in Classical Latin.
- /j/ j
- /w/ w
- /θ/ th
- /ð/ dh
- /x/ ch
The Proto-Northern Romance phoneme /b/ was pronounced either as frictaive [β] or stop [b], depending on position (see phonology). Both allophones here are transcribed as b. Similarly /g/, which could be [ɣ] or [g], is transcribed as g.
Nouns
Latin's seven case system had reduced to four in Proto-Northern Romance – nominative, accusative, genitive and dative.
The neuter gender was lost, neuter nouns on the whole being reanalysed as masculine.
1st Declension
Group I - Mainly feminine, with some masculine exceptions. Derived from Latin 1st and 5th declensions.
| 1st Declension – Group I | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – a | – as | |
| Accusative | – a | – as | |
| Genitive | – ā | – ār | |
| Dative | – ā | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigms decline per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin):
- terra, terrae
- *dia, *diae (< *diēs, diēī)
Notes:
- The Latin paradigms Aenēas, Aenēae and Anchīses, Anchīsae have regularised their nominative singular forms by anaolgy, and thereby merged with the above.
Group II - Feminine. Derived from Latin 1st declension.
| 1st Declension – Group II | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – | – as | |
| Accusative | – | – as | |
| Genitive | – s | – ār | |
| Dative | – ā | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above:
- crambē, crambes
2nd Declension
Group I - Masculine. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.
| 2nd Declension – Group I | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – | – ī | |
| Accusative | – e | – as | |
| Genitive | – es | – ōr | |
| Dative | – ī | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above:'
- pater, patris
Group II - Masculine. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.
| 2nd Declension – Group II | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – es | – ī | |
| Accusative | – e | – as | |
| Genitive | – es | – ōr | |
| Dative | – ī | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigms decline per the above:'
- amnis, amnis
- *āeris, āeris (< āēr, āeris)
- *Periclis, Periclis (<Periclēs, Periclis)
Group III - Masculine. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.
| 2nd Declension – Group III | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – as | – ī | |
| Accusative | – | – as | |
| Genitive | – as | – ōr | |
| Dative | – ī | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigms decline per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin):
- *amantis, amantis (< amans, amantis)
- *hērōis, hērōis (< hērōs, hērōis)
Group IV - Masculine, including originally feminine Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th declensions.
| 2nd Declension – Group IV | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – s | – ī | |
| Accusative | – | – s | |
| Genitive | – ī | – ōr | |
| Dative | – | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigms decline per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin):
- modus, modī
- portus, *portī (< portus, portūs)
- *Dēlus, Dēlī (< Dēlos, Dēlī)
- Lūcius, Lūcī
Group V - Masculine, including originally feminine Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 2nd declension
| 2nd Declension – Group V | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – | – ī | |
| Accusative | – | – s | |
| Genitive | – ī | – ōr | |
| Dative | – | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above
- puer, puerī
Group VI - Masculine, including originally feminine Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 2nd declension
| 2nd Declension – Group VI | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – | – ī | |
| Accusative | – | – as | |
| Genitive | – ī | – ōr | |
| Dative | – | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above
- liber, librī
3rd Declension
Group I - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.
| 3rd Declension – Group I | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – e | – a | |
| Accusative | – e | – a | |
| Genitive | – es | – ōr | |
| Dative | – ī | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin):
- *nōme, nōminis (< nōmen, nōminis)
Group II - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.
| 3rd Declension – Group II | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – es | – a | |
| Accusative | – e | – a | |
| Genitive | – es | – ōr | |
| Dative | – ī | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigms decline per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin)
- *animālis, *animālis (< animāl, animālīs)
- *poēmatis, poēmatis (< poēma, poēmatis)
=====Group III - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.====='
| 3rd Declension – Group III | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – | – a | |
| Accusative | – | – a | |
| Genitive | – es | – ōr | |
| Dative | – ī | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin):
- opus, operis
=====Group IV - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.====='
| 3rd Declension – Group IV | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – s | – a | |
| Accusative | – | – a | |
| Genitive | – s | – ōr | |
| Dative | – ī | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin):
- *ossus, ossis (< os, ossis)
Group V - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.
| 3rd Declension – Group V | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – | – a | |
| Accusative | – | – a | |
| Genitive | – s | – ōr | |
| Dative | – ī | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above:
- rēte, rētis
Group VI - Masculine, originally neuter Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th declensions.
| 3rd Declension – Group VI | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – s | – a | |
| Accusative | – | – a | |
| Genitive | – ī | – ōr | |
| Dative | – | – īs | |
The following Latin paradigms decline per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin):
- *dōnus, dōnī (< dōnum, dōnī)
- *genūus, *genuī (< genū, genūs)
4th Declension
'=====Group I - Feminine, including originally masculine Latin nouns. Derived from Latin 3rd and 5th declensions.=====
| 4th Declension – Group I | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – s | – s | |
| Accusative | – | – s | |
| Genitive | – s | – | |
| Dative | – ī | – ius | |
The following Latin paradigms decline per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin):
- *clādis, clādis (< clādēs, clādis)
- *urbis, urbis (< urbs, urbis)
- *laudis, laudis (< laus, laudis)
- *aetātis, aetātis (< aetās, aetātis)
- rēs, *reis (< rēs, reī)
- *Naiadis, Naiadis (< Naias, Naiadis)
Group II - Feminine. Derived from Latin 3rd declension.
| 4th Declension – Group II | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | – es | – es | |
| Accusative | – e | – es | |
| Genitive | – es | – | |
| Dative | – ī | – ius | |
The following Latin paradigms decline per the above (starred forms are presumed/attested in Vulgar Latin):
- *mōris, mōris (< mōs, mōris)
- *ratiōnis, ratiōnis (< ratiō, ratiōnis)
Pronouns
Nominative
| Nominative Pronouns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st Person | jō | nus | |
| 2nd Person | tū | wus | |
| 3rd Person, impersonal | hoam | ||
| 3rd Person, masculine | elle | ellī | |
| 3rd Person, feminine | ella | ellas | |
Accusative and Reflexive
| Accusative / Reflexive Pronouns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st Person | mi | nus | |
| 2nd Person | ti | wus | |
| 3rd Person | si | si | |
Genitive/Possessive
In Proto-Northern Romance a single pronominal declension came to serve.
| Genitive / Possessive Pronouns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st Person, masculine | mīs | nōster | |
| 1st Person, feminine | ma | ||
| 2nd Person, masculine | tus | wōster | |
| 3rd Person, feminine | ta | ||
| 3rd Person, masculine | sus | ellour | |
| 3rd Person, feminine | sa | ||
Dative
| Dative Pronouns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st Person | mī | nous | |
| 2nd Person | tī | wous | |
| 3rd Person | sī | sī | |
Interrogative and Relative
| Interrogative / Relative Pronouns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| Nominative | cī | cī | |
| Accusative, masculine | ce | cus | |
| Accusative, feminine | quas | ||
| Genitive, masculine | cūjjas | cour | |
| Genitive, feminine | quājjas | quar | |
| Dative, masculine | cī | cius | |
| Dative, feminine | quāj | ||
Verbs
In the transition from Latin to Proto-Northern Romance, verbs went through several syntactic and semantic changes. Most of the distinctions present in classical Latin continued to be made, but synthetic forms were often replaced with analytic ones. Other verb forms changed meaning, and new forms also appeared.
In common with the other Romance dialects, Latin's synthetic passive voice was completely lost, to be replaced by a periphrastic form utilising the appropriately conjugated form of the verb 'to be' plus the past participle.
Similar new periphrastic forms also developed for the future tense, utilising the verb 'to come' plus the infinitive, and the perfect tense, using 'to have' and the past participle.
Latin's perfect tense had also functioned as a preterite (simple past). Following the development of a new periphrastic perfect tense (see above), use of the original perfect form continued but became limited solely to its preterite meaning.
Latin's imperfect tense was completely lost in Proto-Northern Romance.
Indicative Mood
1st Conjugation
| Present | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | – | – āms | |
| 2nd person | – as | – āts | |
| 3rd Person | – at | – ant | |
| Preterite (Simple Past) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | – aj | – aums | |
| 2nd person | – astī | – asts | |
| 3rd Person | – aut | – ārnt | |
A small group of 1st conjugation verbs, primarily those with stems ending in – d, formed their preterite indicative like 2ii verbs. They differed however in the 3rd person singular.
| Preterite (Simple Past) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | ...d – dī | ...d – dīms | |
| 2nd person | ...d – distī | ...d – dists | |
| 3rd Person | ...dh – iss | ...d – dīrnt | |
2nd Conjugation
Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th conjugations
| Present | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | – | – īms | |
| 2nd person | – īs | – īts | |
| 3rd Person | – et | – int | |
Group I - Preterite in – wī etc.
| Preterite (Simple Past) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | – wī | – wīms | |
| 2nd person | – wistī | – wists | |
| 3rd Person | – wet | – wīrnt | |
2i group derived from Latin 2nd conjugation.
Group II - Preterite in – ī etc.
| Preterite (Simple Past) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | – ī | – iums | |
| 2nd person | – istī | – īsts | |
| 3rd Person | – iut | – īrnt | |
2ii group derived from Latin 4th conjugation.
3rd Conjugation
| Present | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | – | – (e)ms | |
| 2nd person | – es | – (e)ts | |
| 3rd Person | – et | – (e)nt | |
| Preterite (Simple Past) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | – si | – sīms | |
| 2nd person | – sistī | – sists | |
| 3rd Person | – set | – sīrnt | |
Subjunctive Mood
1st Conjugation
| Present | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | –e | – īms | |
| 2nd person | – es | – īts | |
| 3rd Person | – et | – int | |
| Preterite (Simple Past) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | – wisse | – ausīms | |
| 2nd person | – wiss | – ausīts | |
| 3rd Person | – wisst | – wissint | |
2nd Conjugation
Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th conjugations
| Present | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | –a | – āms | |
| 2nd person | – as | – ātes | |
| 3rd Person | – at | – ant | |
Group I - Preterite 1st person plural in – wissīms
| Preterite (Simple Past) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | – wisse | – wissīms | |
| 2nd person | – wiss | – wissīts | |
| 3rd Person | – wisst | – wissint | |
2i group derived from Latin 2nd conjugation.
Group II - Preterite 1st person plural in – iusīms
| Preterite (Simple Past) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | – wisse | – iusīms | |
| 2nd person | – wiss | – iusīts | |
| 3rd Person | – wisst | – wissint | |
2ii group derived from Latin 4th conjugation.
3rd Conjugation
| Present | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | –a | – āms | |
| 2nd person | – as | – ātes | |
| 3rd Person | – at | – ant | |
| Preterite (Simple Past) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | – isse | – issīms | |
| 2nd person | – iss | – issīts | |
| 3rd Person | – isst | – issint | |
Imperative Mood
| Singular | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Conjugation | – a | ||
| 2nd Conjugation | – e | ||
| 3rd Conjugation | – e | ||
| Plural | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Conjugation | – āt | ||
| 2nd Conjugation | – īt | ||
| 3rd Conjugation | – t | ||
Infinitive and Participles
| Infinitive | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Conjugation | – āre | ||
| 2nd Conjugation | – īre | ||
| 3rd Conjugation | – re | ||
| Past Participle | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Conjugation | cun – āt | ||
| 2nd Conjugation | cun – īt | ||
| 3rd Conjugation | cun – t | ||
During the Proto-Northern Romance period the past particple increasingly came to be prefixed with *cun- (from the Latin verbal prefix con-). The precise semantic purpose of the prefix is unclear, although it clearly served to differentiate the past participle from other verb forms. It is possible the use of such a prefix had its origins in the pre-Roman languages of the Germanian tribes.
| Passive Participle | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Feminine | ||
| 1st Conjugation | – āts | – āta | |
| 2nd Conjugation | – īts | – īta | |
| 3rd Conjugation | – ts | – ta | |
The passive participle agrees with the gender of the patient.
Auxilliary Verbs
Esttre (to be)
| Present | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | su | soums | |
| 2nd person | es | ests | |
| 3rd Person | est | sunt | |
| Preterite (Simple Past) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | thwī | thoums | |
| 2nd person | thustī | thusts | |
| 3rd Person | thut | thournt | |
Esttre was used in conjunction with a passive participle to create the passive voice.
The passive participle agrees in gender with the patient. For example, ella est āmāta (she is loved), elle tut dāts (it was given).
Hābīre (to have)
| Present | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | hāb | hābīms | |
| 2nd person | hābs | hābīts | |
| 3rd Person | haut | haunt | |
| Preterite (Simple Past) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | houwī | houwīms | |
| 2nd person | houwistī | houwists | |
| 3rd Person | houwet | houwīrnt | |
The present tense of hābīre was used in conjunction with a past participle to create the perfect: jo hāb cunthout (I have been).
The preterite of hābīre was used in conjunction with a past participle to create the pluperfect: wus houwīms cunwint (we had come).
Weanīre (to come)
| Present | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | wean | weanīms | |
| 2nd person | weanīs | weanītīs | |
| 3rd Person | weanet | weannt | |
| Preterite (Simple Past) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | ||
| 1st person | winwi | winwīms | |
| 2nd person | winwistī | winwists | |
| 3rd Person | winwet | winwīrnt | |
The present tense of weanīre was used in conjunction with an infinitive to create the future: tu weanīs indūccre (you will lead).
The preterite of weanīre was used in conjunction with an infinitive to create the conditional (i.e. 'future-in-the-past): jo winwi ferdhounāre (I would forgive).
