Proto-Northern-Romance (MGR): Difference between revisions

From FrathWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Line 279: Line 279:


''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''.''
 
</div><br>
=== 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.
 
</div><br>
==== 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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 305: Line 306:
''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.
 
</div><br>
=====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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 320: Line 322:
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above:
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above:
:* {{SC|crambē, crambes}}
:* {{SC|crambē, crambes}}
 
</div><br>
==== 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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 337: Line 340:
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above:'
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above:'
:* {{SC|pater, patris}}
:* {{SC|pater, patris}}
 
</div><br>
=====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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 354: Line 358:
:* {{SC|*āeris, āeris}} (< {{SC|āēr, āeris}})
:* {{SC|*āeris, āeris}} (< {{SC|āēr, āeris}})
:* {{SC|*Periclis, Periclis}} (<{{SC|Periclēs, Periclis}})
:* {{SC|*Periclis, Periclis}} (<{{SC|Periclēs, Periclis}})
 
</div><br>
=====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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 370: Line 375:
:* {{SC|*amantis, amantis}} (< {{SC|amans, amantis}})
:* {{SC|*amantis, amantis}} (< {{SC|amans, amantis}})
:* {{SC|*hērōis, hērōis}} (< {{SC|hērōs, hērōis}})
:* {{SC|*hērōis, hērōis}} (< {{SC|hērōs, hērōis}})
 
</div><br>
=====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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 388: Line 394:
:* {{SC|*Dēlus, Dēlī}} (< {{SC|Dēlos, Dēlī}})
:* {{SC|*Dēlus, Dēlī}} (< {{SC|Dēlos, Dēlī}})
:* {{SC|Lūcius, Lūcī}}
:* {{SC|Lūcius, Lūcī}}
 
</div><br>
=====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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 403: Line 410:
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above
:* {{SC|puer, puerī}}
:* {{SC|puer, puerī}}
 
</div><br>
=====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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 418: Line 426:
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above
:* {{SC|liber, librī}}
:* {{SC|liber, librī}}
 
</div><br>
==== 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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 435: Line 444:
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}})
 
</div><br>
=====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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 451: Line 461:
:* {{SC|*animālis, *animālis}} (< {{SC|animāl, animālīs}})
:* {{SC|*animālis, *animālis}} (< {{SC|animāl, animālīs}})
:* {{SC|*poēmatis, poēmatis}} (< {{SC|poēma, poēmatis}})
:* {{SC|*poēmatis, poēmatis}} (< {{SC|poēma, poēmatis}})
 
</div><br>
=====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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 466: Line 477:
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}}
 
</div><br>
=====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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 481: Line 493:
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}})
 
</div><br>
=====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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 496: Line 509:
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above:
The following Latin paradigm declines per the above:
:* {{SC|rēte, rētis}}
:* {{SC|rēte, rētis}}
 
</div><br>
=====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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 512: Line 526:
:* {{SC|*dōnus, dōnī}} (< {{SC|dōnum, dōnī}})
:* {{SC|*dōnus, dōnī}} (< {{SC|dōnum, dōnī}})
:* {{SC|*genūus, *genuī}} (< {{SC|genū, genūs}})
:* {{SC|*genūus, *genuī}} (< {{SC|genū, genūs}})
 
</div><br>
==== 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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 534: Line 549:
:* {{SC|rēs, *reis}} (< {{SC|rēs, reī}})
:* {{SC|rēs, *reis}} (< {{SC|rēs, reī}})
:* {{SC|*Naiadis, Naiadis}} (< {{SC|Naias, Naiadis}})
:* {{SC|*Naiadis, Naiadis}} (< {{SC|Naias, Naiadis}})
 
</div><br>
=====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 }}
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
|||||''Singular''||''Plural''
Line 550: Line 566:
:* {{SC|*mōris, mōris}} (< {{SC|mōs, mōris}})
:* {{SC|*mōris, mōris}} (< {{SC|mōs, mōris}})
:* {{SC|*ratiōnis, ratiōnis}} (< {{SC|ratiō, ratiōnis}})
:* {{SC|*ratiōnis, ratiōnis}} (< {{SC|ratiō, ratiōnis}})
 
</div><br>
=== Pronouns ===
=== Pronouns ===
==== Nominative ====
==== Nominative ====
Line 567: Line 583:
|||''3rd Person, feminine''|| ella|| ellas
|||''3rd Person, feminine''|| ella|| ellas
|}
|}
 
</div><br>
==== Accusative and Reflexive ====
==== Accusative and Reflexive ====


Line 579: Line 595:
|||''3rd Person''|| si || si
|||''3rd Person''|| si || si
|}
|}
 
</div><br>
==== 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.
Line 598: Line 614:
|||''3rd Person, feminine''|| sa ||
|||''3rd Person, feminine''|| sa ||
|}
|}
 
</div><br>
==== Dative ====
==== Dative ====


Line 610: Line 626:
|||''3rd Person''|| sī || sī
|||''3rd Person''|| sī || sī
|}
|}
 
</div><br>
==== Interrogative and Relative ====
==== Interrogative and Relative ====


Line 630: Line 646:
|||''Dative, feminine''|| quāj ||
|||''Dative, feminine''|| quāj ||
|}
|}
 
</div><br>
=== 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.
Line 641: Line 657:


Latin's imperfect tense was completely lost in Proto-Northern Romance.
Latin's imperfect tense was completely lost in Proto-Northern Romance.
 
</div><br>
==== Indicative Mood ====
==== Indicative Mood ====
===== 1st Conjugation =====
===== 1st Conjugation =====
Line 664: Line 680:
|||''3rd Person''||– aut||– ārnt
|||''3rd Person''||– aut||– ārnt
|}
|}
 
</div><br>
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 675: Line 691:
|||''3rd Person''||...dh – iss||...d – dīrnt
|||''3rd Person''||...dh – iss||...d – dīrnt
|}
|}
 
</div><br>
===== 2nd Conjugation =====
===== 2nd Conjugation =====
'''''Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th conjugations'''''
'''''Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th conjugations'''''
Line 687: Line 703:
|||''3rd Person''||– et||– int
|||''3rd Person''||– et||– int
|}
|}
 
</div><br>
=====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 700: Line 716:
|}
|}
''2i group derived from Latin 2nd conjugation.''
''2i group derived from Latin 2nd conjugation.''
 
</div><br>
=====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 712: Line 728:
|}
|}
''2ii group derived from Latin 4th conjugation.''
''2ii group derived from Latin 4th conjugation.''
 
</div><br>
===== 3rd Conjugation =====
===== 3rd Conjugation =====
{{shaded table| title=Present | cols=4 }}
{{shaded table| title=Present | cols=4 }}
Line 733: Line 749:
|||''3rd Person''||– set||– sīrnt
|||''3rd Person''||– set||– sīrnt
|}
|}
 
</div><br>
==== Subjunctive Mood ====
==== Subjunctive Mood ====
===== 1st Conjugation =====
===== 1st Conjugation =====
Line 755: Line 771:
|||''3rd Person''||– wisst||– wissint
|||''3rd Person''||– wisst||– wissint
|}
|}
 
</div><br>
===== 2nd Conjugation =====
===== 2nd Conjugation =====
'''''Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th conjugations'''''
'''''Derived from Latin 2nd and 4th conjugations'''''
Line 767: Line 783:
|||''3rd Person''||– at||– ant
|||''3rd Person''||– at||– ant
|}
|}
 
</div><br>
===== 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 779: Line 795:
|}
|}
''2i group derived from Latin 2nd conjugation.''
''2i group derived from Latin 2nd conjugation.''
 
</div><br>
===== 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 791: Line 807:
|}
|}
''2ii group derived from Latin 4th conjugation.''
''2ii group derived from Latin 4th conjugation.''
 
</div><br>
===== 3rd Conjugation =====
===== 3rd Conjugation =====
{{shaded table| title=Present | cols=4 }}
{{shaded table| title=Present | cols=4 }}
Line 812: Line 828:
|||''3rd Person''||– isst||– issint
|||''3rd Person''||– isst||– issint
|}
|}
 
</div><br>
==== Imperative Mood ====
==== Imperative Mood ====
{{shaded table| title=Singular | cols=4 }}
{{shaded table| title=Singular | cols=4 }}
Line 829: Line 845:
|||''3rd Conjugation''||||– t
|||''3rd Conjugation''||||– t
|}
|}
 
</div><br>
==== Infinitive and Participles ====
==== Infinitive and Participles ====
{{shaded table| title=Infinitive | cols=4 }}
{{shaded table| title=Infinitive | cols=4 }}
Line 847: Line 863:
|}
|}
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.
<br>
</div><br>
<br>
{{shaded table| title=Passive Participle | cols=4 }}
{{shaded table| title=Passive Participle | cols=4 }}
|||||''Masculine''||''Feminine''
|||||''Masculine''||''Feminine''
Line 859: Line 874:
|}
|}
The passive participle agrees with the gender of the patient.
The passive participle agrees with the gender of the patient.
 
</div><br>
==== Auxilliary Verbs ====
==== Auxilliary Verbs ====
'''Esttre ''(to be)'''''
'''Esttre ''(to be)'''''
Line 885: Line 900:


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).
<br>
</div><br>
<br>
'''Hābīre ''(to have)'''''
'''Hābīre ''(to have)'''''
{{shaded table| title=Present | cols=4 }}
{{shaded table| title=Present | cols=4 }}
Line 911: Line 925:


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).
<br>
</div><br>
<br>
'''Weanīre ''(to come)'''''
'''Weanīre ''(to come)'''''
{{shaded table| title=Present | cols=4 }}
{{shaded table| title=Present | cols=4 }}

Revision as of 15:28, 22 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
Romance
Italo-Northwestern-Romance
Proto-Northern-Romance
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
Near-high ɪ ʊ
High-mid e
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 >
e > ɪ
> ɪ
ɛ > ɛ
æː¹ >
a > a
ʊ >
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 >
ɛ > ɛː
a >
ʊ >


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
> ı͡e
ɛː > ɛ͡ə
> 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 nus
2nd Person 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 nous
2nd Person wous
3rd Person


Interrogative and Relative

Interrogative / Relative Pronouns
Singular Plural
Nominative
Accusative, masculine ce cus
Accusative, feminine quas
Genitive, masculine cūjjas cour
Genitive, feminine quājjas quar
Dative, masculine 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).