Phase 1[]
The transition from Late Latin to Proto Northern Romance. The Latin vocalic system was simplified, as stressed syllables started to take on quality instead of length distinctions while unstressed vowels tended towards elision. Final -M and -S were dropped. Vowels in unstressed syllables collapse to /a e i o u/ and in final syllalbes /a e i u/ (/o/>/u/).
Stressed Vowels[]
- A generally remains /a/
- AU remains /aw/
- E, OE > /ɛ/
- Ē, I, OE > /e/
- Ī > /i/
- O > /ɔ/
- Ō,U > /o/
- Ū > /u/
Examples[]
aurum > awru
dūrus > duru
oculus > ɔclu
levis > lɛve
trēs > tre
nivem > neve
rota > rɔta
caseolu > kasjol
casa > kasa
canem > kane
camba > kamba
gallīna > gallina
cattus > cattu
tōtus > totu
fōrma > forma
ego > ɛgu
Phase 2[]
Stressed vowels continue to evolve, umlaut becomes productive.
The consonants /p t c/ evolve into /f s x/ in certain positions.
Word-finally, /a/ > /ǝ/, /e u/ disappear, /i/ > /ǝ/.
Stressed Vowels[]
- /a/ > /a/
- /aw/ > /ɔ/
- /ɛ/ > /ɛ/
- /e/ > /e/
- /i/ > /i/
- /ɔ/
- > /o/
- > /ø/ _#i,j
- /o/
- > /u/
- > /y/ _#i,j
- /u/ > /y/
auru > ɔr
duru > dyr
ɔclu > oxl
lɛve > lɛf
tre > tre
neve > nef
rɔta > rotsa
casjol > haʃol
casa > xasa
can > xan
camba > xamba
gallina > galna
cattu > xatz
totu > tsuts
forma > furma
ɛgu > ɛh