Publication Date

1996

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Mazzola, Michael Lee

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures

LCSH

Provençal language--Phonetics; Romance languages--Phonetics; Provençal language--Palatalization

Abstract

This thesis examines medial palatal affricates in Provengal in order to suggest an extensive Western Romance unity. This unity of French and Provenqal, coupled with the proposed alternative theory for medial palatal affrication, opposes traditional claims to the strong Germanic superstratum influence. The traditional explanation of affrication, based upon the occurrence of syncope, is used to support the notion that the Germanic languages played an important role in the development of the French language. The theory proposed here, that of yod-increment, discounts the importance of syncope and dispenses with the problematic use of analogy as an explanation for the exceptions produced by the traditional description of palatal affrication. The empirical data given demonstrate a regular, phonological approach to medial palatal affrication and provide a logical solution to the troublesome anomalies created by previous explanations.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [66]-69)

Extent

69 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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