Diachronics of plural inflection in the Gallo-Italic languages explained
The general lines of diachronics of Lombard and Piedmontese plural declension are drawn here:
Feminine
In Lombard and Piedmontese, feminine plural is generally derived from Latin first declension accusative -as (compare); nouns from other classes first collapsed there; some concrete realisations are:
- -as > -a
- -as > -es > -e
- -as > -es > -ei > -i
- -as > -es > -ei > -i > -e
- -as > -es > -ei > -i > -∅
Masculine
On the contrary, masculine plural is generally derived from Latin second declension nominative -i; this suffix eventually drops orgives rise to palatalisation or metaphonesis; some concrete realisations are:
- -li > -lj > -gl > -j
- -ni > -nj > -gn
- -ti > -tj > -cc
- Metaphonesis (in regression) : orti > öört;
- Neutralisation: -i > -∅
See also
References
- G.Hull: the linguistic unity of Northern Italy and Rhaetia, PhD thesis, University of Sydney West (1982)
- E.Banfi, G.Bonfadini, P.Cordin, M.Iliescu: Italia Settentrionale: Crocevia di idiomi Romanzi, Atti del convegno internazionale di studi, Trent 21-23 Ottobre 1993 Niemayer, Tübingen, 1995