Proto-Slavonic stock of vowel phonemes in the light of distribution analysis Cover Image

Samogłoskowa baza fonematyczna języka prasłowiańskiego w świetle analizy dystrybucyjnej
Proto-Slavonic stock of vowel phonemes in the light of distribution analysis

Author(s): Marek Osiewicz
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: KSIĘGARNIA AKADEMICKA Sp. z o.o.
Keywords: historical phonology; structuralist phonology; Proto-Slavic language

Summary/Abstract: The article attempts to employ distribution analysis of Proto-Slavonic sounds to falsify current findings on the Proto-Slavonic stock of vowel phonemes. The material for the analysis has been extracted from W. Boryś’s Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego (‘Etymological dictionary of Polish’). Analyzed was direct bilateral neighbourhood of vowels. To determine the Proto-Slavonic phonological units, a modified methodological proposition of Jerzy Bańczerowski has been used. In light of the analysis, the vowels [i], [y], [ъ], and [ь] – which have until now been treated as separate phonological units – are realizations of two phonemes: /i/ which covers non-back high vowels (→ [i], [y]), and /ъ/ which covers lowered non-back vowels (→ [ъ] and [ь]).

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 15
  • Page Range: 75-87
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish