Proto-Hercynian

Proto-Hercynian is the (intrafictionally) reconstructed common ancestor of the Hercynian languages, which form a branch of the Hesperic language family, a family of diachronic lostlangs designed by Jörg Rhiemeier.

Phonology

Sound changes from Proto-Hesperic

This section gives an overview of the sound changes that occured on the way from Proto-Hesperic to Proto-Hercynian.

Common West Hesperic developments

• Drummond's Law
• Senantho's Law
• Alfermann's Law
• x > 3

Continental West Hesperic developments

• m > n /_#
• ng > n /_#

Further changes shared with Proto-Alpianic

• Laryngeal loss

• V3 > V:
• 3 > 0 /otherwise

• Monophthongizations

• ai, ia > é
• au, ua > ó
• iu > ú
• ui > í
• VV > V: /if both of same quality

• Pre-sonorant vowel lowering

* i > e, u > o before nasals and liquids (affects both long and short vowels)

• Vowel lengthenings and shortenings

• Long vowels are shorted in closed syllables
• Short vowels are lengthened in stressed open syllables

Begemann's Law

• Aspirated stops become voiceless fricatives between two vowels and word-finally after a vowel.
• In other positions, aspirated stops merge with neutral stops.
• Voiced stops become voiced fricatives between two vowels and word-finally after a vowel.
• In other positions, voiced stops remain unchanged.
• Neutral stops remain unchanged in all positions.

Origin of *z

• s > z / after nasals and liquids
• tj, kj > s
• dj, gj > z