Valthungian/Rules

Historical Sound Changes from Proto-Germanic to East Germanic (ca. 400b.c.-0)

First Umlaut

Has to precede Mora Loss

Has to precede ŋ-deletion

Stage 1.

e > i / V[+str] … __[-str] ! {r,h⁽ʷ⁾,+

/e/ > /i/ when unstressed following a stressed vowel except before /r/, /h/, /hʷ/, or a morpheme boundary.

Stage 2.

e > i / __[+str] ! {r,h⁽ʷ⁾,+

/e/ > /i/ when stressed except before /r/, /h/, /hʷ/, or a morpheme boundary.

(Stage 3: See EGmc Reflex of 1st Umlaut.)

/ŋ/-Deletion

Vŋh > V[+lng, +nas]Øh

A vowel, followed by the sequence /ŋh/ (where /h/=[h,x]), becomes long and nasal and /ŋ/ is deleted (in all environments).

Intervocalic Spirantization

C[+vce,-cnt] > [+cnt] / V__V

In other words,

b,d,g > β,ð,γ / V__V

A voiced non-continuant consonant (i.e. a voiced stop) becomes continuant (i.e. a fricative) when intervocalic.

EGmc Reflex of 1st Umlaut

This rule is really "Stage 3" of First Umlaut, also called East Germanic Expansion of First Umlaut

i,u > e,o / __[+str]{r,h⁽ʷ⁾

/i/ becomes /e/ and /u/ becomes /o/ when stressed before /r/, /h/, or /hʷ/

Monophthongization of Unstressed /ai, au/

Has to precede Mora Loss

ai,au > ɛ̄,ɔ̄ / σ[-str]__[-str]C_o#

Historical Sound Changes from East-Germanic to Gothic (ca. 0-400a.d.)

[these changes still need to be ordered correctly]

z-Deletion, Obstruent Devoicing

z → ∅ / V[-lng]{r,s}___#

/z/ is deleted word-finally after a short vowel followed by /r/ or /s/.

E.g. *weraz ‘man’, *drusaz ‘fall’ → /wirz/, /drusz/ → waír, drus → wer, drus.

Historical Sound Changes from Gothic to Old Gutish (ca. 400-800a.d.)

Expansion of Gothic Glide Insertion

This is a slightly altered continuation of the earlier East Germanic Glide Insertion rule; the rule remains persistent throughout Gutish grammar.

∅ → j / V[-bck,-low]___+V
∅ → w / V[+bck,-low]___+V

/j/ is inserted between two vowels, the first of which is a non-low front vowel (e,ē,i,ī).

/w/ is inserted between two vowels, the first of which is a non-low back vowel (o,ō,u,ū).

E.g.

ija ‘her’ + Short Vowel Lengthening → /īa/ + Glide Insertion → īja → (ev.) /aija/ īja

rauan /rɔ̄an/ ‘to row’ + Long Vowel Raising → /rōan/ + Glide Insertion → /rōwan/ (ev.) /rōn/ rǭn