The Gascon evolution of Latin ‑ll‑: A new theory

Abstract

Abstract In Gascon, Latin ‑ll‑ has evolved to the word‑medial result ‑r‑ and the secondarily word‑final result ‑t in most of Gascony, along with word‑final palatal variants. These results are generally assumed to have originated from a lost retroflex stage, paralleling existing retroflex results for ‑ll‑ in South Italian dialects and in Western Asturias. The present study offers an alternative theory by positing a delateralization of a lateral to a voiced non‑spirant alveolar stop *d, with no change in the point of articulation. The *d is shown to be an areal phenomenon in that it is the source of the Upper Aragonese ‑ll‑ results and is a sound that is found currently in some Basque dialects. The same theory of a nonspirant alveolar *d stage for ‑ll‑ explains the eventual presence of retroflexion in Western Asturias. While on the surface any Basque influence on the Gascon sound changes appears unlikely, this study shows that both the initial change to an alveolar stop, and the word‑final palatal results, can plausibly be attributed to Basque influence.