Abstract
Middle and Upper German dialects exhibit a phonological process of s-retraction neutralizing alveolar [s] to palatoalveolar [ʃ] in preconsonantal contexts. Based on a corpus of dialect data from own fieldwork, dialect atlases and dictionaries, we examine this process in Germanic, Romance and Slavic varieties of the Eastern Alps. It is attested in most Germanic varieties and in Ladin and Rumantsch, but not in other Romance varieties or in the Slovenian dialects of the region. We propose that the emergence of s-retraction may be supported by language contact, but crucially relies on specific diachronic changes affecting the sibilant inventories of the varieties displaying it.
Map of investigated area – red: Germanic varieties (dark red: Germanic language islands); light green: Ladin and Rumantsch varieties, dark green: Other Romance varieties; blue: Slovenian varieties.
Locations of the survey area. Germanic varieties.
| Variety | Location (local name) | Administrative area | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyrolean | Landeck | Tyrol (Austria) | AThEME |
| Mals | South Tyrol | AThEME | |
| Meran | Own fieldwork | ||
| Sterzing | TSA | ||
| Bruneck | TSA | ||
| Salurn | AThEME | ||
| Cimbrian | Lusérn | Trentino | AThEME |
| Mòcheno | Palai | Own fieldwork | |
| Oachlait | AThEME | ||
| Sappadino | Plodn | Friuli Venezia Giulia | AThEME, B/K |
| Saurano | Zahre | D/G |
Locations of the survey area. Romance varieties.
| Variety | Sub-variety | Location (local name) | Administrative area | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladin | Gardenese | Sëlva | South Tyrol | ALD-I, C VIVALDI |
| Badia | San Martin de Tor | ALD-I | ||
| Fassan | Ciampedel | Trentino | ALD-I | |
| Soraga | AThEME, ALD-I | |||
| Fodom | Fodom | Veneto | AThEME, ALD-I | |
| Anpezo | Anpezo | ALD-I, VIVALDI | ||
| Rumantsch | Sursilvan | Breil | Graubünden (Switzerland) | D, J, Wikimedia |
| Trentino (Lombardo-Veneto) | Salorno | South Tyrol | AThEME | |
| Canal San Bovo | Trentino | VIVALDI | ||
| Brentonico | AThEME | |||
| Fondo | AThEME | |||
| Venetian | San Pietro di Morubio | Veneto | AThEME | |
| Istrana | VIVALDI | |||
| Friulian | Forni Avoltri | Friuli Venezia Giulia | VIVALDI | |
| Forni di Sotto | VIVALDI | |||
| Tramonti di Sopra | ASLEF | |||
| San Odorico | ASLEF | |||
| Cerneglons | ASLEF | |||
| Carlino | ASLEF |
Locations of the survey area. Slavic varieties.
| Variety | Sub-variety15 | Location (local name) | Administrative area | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slovenian | Carinthian dialects | Brdo pri Šmohorju | Carinthia (Austria) | ASLEF |
| Ukve | Friuli Venezia Giulia | SLA | ||
| Littoral dialects | Osojani | ASLEF | ||
| Solbica | ASLEF, SLA | |||
| Bardo | ASLEF | |||
| Černjeja | ASLEF, SLA | |||
| Špeter | ASLEF, SLA | |||
| Zgonik | ASLEF | |||
| Upper Carniola dialects | Cerklje na Gorenjskem | Slovenia | SLA | |
| Rovte dialects | Rut/Podbrdo | SLA |
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