Middle High Beltonian

Middle High Beltonian (MHB) is the form of the Beltonian language that was spoken in central and south Beltonia from 900 to 1600. In later centuries it also appeared as a written language.

MHB and Middle Low Beltonian (MLB) represented opposite ends of a spectrum of dialects, which were affected by other points of variation. Some linguists treat the Middle Central dialects as another set of dialects. MHB was not initially influenced by Classical Beltonian, which also developed from the Low dialects, although it was eventually influenced by the Classical and Middle Low dialects, especially with spelling and imported vocabulary.

MHB saw a series of consonant changes as a result of disappearing vowels and subsequent consonant assimilation. Its vowels were affected by the later arrival of the Low Beltonian Vowel Shift which added front rounded vowels. In grammar, it saw a complete loss of gender marking and a reduction in the number of cases. Some aspects of verb inflection were simplified and auxiliary verbs were introduced to convey certain tenses and an imperfective aspect. MHB was the primary basis for Early Modern Beltonian and therefore modern Beltonian dialects.