Diachronics of plural inflection in the Gallo-Italian languages

The general lines of diachronics of Lombard and Piedmontese plural declension are drawn here:

Feminine

In the Lombard languages and in Piedmontese, feminine plural is GeneRally derived from Latin first declination accusative -as; nouns from other classes first collapsed there; some concrete realisations are:

  • -as>-a
  • -as>-es>-e
  • -as>-es>-ei>-i
  • -as>-es>-ei>-i> -e
  • -as>-es>-ei>-i> ∅

Masculine

On the contrary, masculine plural is generally derived from Latin second declination nominative -i; this desinence eventually drops or gives rise to palatalisation or metaphonesis; some concrete realisations are:

  • -li>-lj>-gl>-j
  • -ni>nj>-gn
  • -ti>tj>-cc
  • Metaphonesis (in regression) : orti>öört;
  • Neutralisation: -i> ∅

See also

  • Western Lombard
  • Eastern Lombard
  • Piedmontese
  • Romance plurals

References

  • G.Hull: the linguistic unity of Northern Italy and Rhaetia, PhD thesis, University of Sidney West (1982)
  • E.Banfi, G.Bonfadini, P.Cordin, M.Iliescu: Italia Settentrionale: Crocevia di idiomi Romanzi, Atti del convegno internazionale di studi, Trent 21-23 Ottobre 1993 Niemayer, Tübingen, 1995