Middle Valthungian

Middle Valthungian represents a period in the development of Valthungian lasting from around 1200‒1600 a.d. marked mainly by palatalization of a great many consonants as well as some minor reduction to unstressed vowels. Though this is a range which experienced many changes, the most representative example of “Middle Valthungian” is the language as captured by the suddenly-prolific Valthungian writers at the beginning of the Renaissance, circa 1450‒1500 a.d.

Major Changes from Old Valthungian Middle Valthungian

Defenestration of Greek Fricatives

Vowel Tensing

Rhotacism Fail

Elimination of Non-Word-Initial /h/

Deletion of Interconsonantal /h/

Changes of /h/ to /θ/

Changes of /h/ to /f/

Compensatory Lengthening

Further Changes of /h/ to /θ/

Assimilation of /s/ in Consonant Clusters

Palatalization

Palatalization of /sk/ after Front Vowels

Change of /hj/ to /šj/

Palatalization of Non-Labial Stop Consonants before /j/

Vowel Reduction

Major Changes from Middle Valthungian to Valthungian

Vowel Reduction

Deletion of Word-Final /a/

Lowering of Unstressed Short Vowels

Shortening of Unstressed Long Vowels

Changes to Unstressed Word-Final Syllables

Un-Tensing of Front Middle Diphthongs

Raising of Middle Diphthongs

Syllabic Unpacking

Affrication and Merging of Palatals & Deletion of /j/

Deletion of /b/ and /f/ after /m/

Vocalization of /w/