Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

The term metaphony, which was first used in French (metaphonie) as a translation of the German word Umlaut , is traditionally used in Romance linguistics to refer to a process in which a vowel assimilates partially or totally to the height of a following vowel. Metaphony is one of the most characteristic phonological processes characterizing the Romance languages, and in particular Italian varieties (although not Tuscan and, therefore, standard Italian, which is based on Tuscan). For example, in many Italian dialects, high mid vowels are raised to high before a high vowel. In the same context, low mid vowels can be raised to high mid, or diphthongized. This has resulted in numerous alternations, as in the examples /ˈverde ∼ ˈvirdi/ ‘green ( sg ˜ pl )’, /ˈpεde ∼ ˈpedi/ or /ˈpεde ∼ ˈpjedi/ ‘foot ( sg ˜ pl )’, where the plural form shows metaphonic effects. Less commonly, a stressed low vowel may also be affected by metaphonic raising, and other changes may take place as well (cf. Maiden 1991 ; Calabrese 1985, 1998) . The conditioning factor in the metaphonic alternations has been obscured in many dialects by the neutralization or deletion of final vowels. This has produced vowel alternations in nominal and verbal paradigms for which there is no overt trigger. As observed by Anderson (1980 : 43), the formal mechanism characterizing metaphony is not distinct from that underlying ... log in or subscribe to read full text