User:Chrysophylax/Proto-Lusanic

From Linguifex
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Proto-Lúsanic, also Proto-Lusanic, (sometimes abbreviated PLu.), is the reconstructed ancestral language of all the Lúsanian languages, including Aurónian, Finian and the Limbe-Mereian languages. Proto-Lúsanic is classified as being part of the “centum” languages (similarly to Italic, Celtic, Germanic, etc.), having merged the traditional palatovelar and plain series of Proto-Indo-European plosives.

The reconstruction of Proto-Lúsanic is currently being undertaken but suffers from a lack of recorded sources as written material is mostly attested from one branch (Finio-Dhannic).

Sound changes from Proto-Indo-European

Late Proto-Indo-European

Many of these changes were shared by other branches of the Indo-European family.

  • “Palatovelars” merge with the “plain” velars (centumization):
  • /ḱ/ → /k/
  • /ǵ/ → /g/
  • /ǵʱ/ → /gʱ/
  • Two adjacent dentals become *ss:
  • /dt/ → /ss/
  • /tt/ → /ss/
  • /dd/ → /ss/
  • metathesis of “thorn clusters” (TK > KT, e.g. *h2rtkos → *h2rktos)
  • Loss of laryngeals before a following vowel:
  • /h₁e/ → /iː/
  • /h₂e/ → /a/
  • /h₃e/ → /o/

Early Proto-Lúsanic

  • Labiovelars and sequences of velar + *w merge:
  • /kʷ/ → /kw/
  • /gʷ/ → /gw/
  • /gʷʱ/ → /gʱw/
  • Sequences of *s + plosive simplify to *ss
  • /st/ → /ss/
  • /sk/ → /ss/
  • /sp/ → /ss/

Proto-Lúsanic

  • Fricativization and devoicing of velar consonants before *w, *r, *l:
  • /kw/ → /hw/
  • /gw/ → /hw/
  • /gʱw/ → /hw/
  • Epethentic *a inserted before syllabic resonants:
  • /m̩/ → /am/
  • /n̩/ → /an/
  • /l̩/ → /al/
  • /r̩/ → /ar/
  • All words become stressed on the first syllable (e.g. *gʰortós → *gʰórtos)
  • Lowering of *e to *a if the following syllable has *a (e.g *ésanti → *ásanti)
  • Raising of *o after *w
  • /wo/ → /wu/