Beheko bokalaren asimilazioaren historiarako: mendebaleko lekukotasunak

• Main Author: Eneko Zuloaga
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Gobierno de Navarra 2017-06-01
• Series: Fontes Linguae Vasconum
• Subjects: dynamic dialectology; phonology; historical sociolinguistics; western Basque
• Online Access: http://www.culturanavarra.es/uploads/files/separata%206.pdf

Lan honek euskaraz gertatzen den beheko bokalaren asimilazioa (a → e / {i/u} (C)_) du aztergai. Bilakabide fonologiko hori Hego Euskal Herriko hainbat hizkeratan lekukotu da XVII. mendeaz geroztik. Bada, /a/ → [e] igotzearen testuinguruez eta egungo hedaduraz hainbat azterlan zehatz egin diren arren (De Rijk, 1970; Hualde, 1991; Hualde & Gaminde, 1997; Euskaltzaindia, 2013; Zuazo, 2014), gutxi ezagutzen da ezaugarriaren jatorriaz eta hedatze-prozesuaz. Hain zuzen ere, alderdi horiekin du lotura lan honek: berrikuntzak mendebaleko euskal hizkeretan izandako bilakabidea dut aztergai; zehazki, bilakabidea ageri duten testu zaharrak aztertu ditut, ezaugarriaren kronologiaz, hedadura geografikoaz eta balio soziolinguistikoaz argi gehiago emateko. This paper deals with the history of the low vowel assimilation process in Basque: a → e / {i/u} (C)_. The rule is a widely attested phonological innovation which gradually developed in many southern varieties from the 17th century onwards. Although there are some detailed surveys on the /a/ → [e] raising rule (De Rijk, 1970; Hualde, 1991; Hualde & Gaminde, 1997; Euskaltzaindia, 2013; Zuazo, 2014), we lack information about the origin and diffusion of the feature. Thus, this paper is concerned with the historical development of the innovation in the westernmost varieties of Basque. For that purpose, I analyze the old texts where the rule is attested and I seek to shed some light on the chronology, geographical spreading and sociolinguistic value of the feature.