Published In
Revista de Estudios Hispánicos
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2016
Subjects
Historical linguistics, Phonetics -- Research, Spanish language -- History
Abstract
The evolution of the medieval sibilant phonetic system is indispensable in understanding how original Castilian expanded and evolved on both sides of the Atlantic. At the same time, it helps to distinguish varieties such as Andalusian Spanish, trans-Atlantic Spanish, and Judeo-Spanish, which in many ways constitutes proof of all the diachronic processes happening during and after the late medieval period. The sibilant merger and its resulting graphic confusion represent a crucial chapter in the development of Spanish. This study offers an extensive overview of the evidence, chrono- logy, dialectal divergence, theories of causation, and phonetic background of this merger. Condensing what prior scholarship has already established, it helps the reader understand how the sibilant system evolved into its modern realization. It explores the origins and different steps in their complex evolution. Lastly, it evaluates the most recent research on the history of these phonetic changes.
Rights
Reprinted with publisher permission.
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/37356
Citation Details
Núñez-Méndez, Eva. 2016. “A diachronic approach to the Old Spanish sibilant merger and its impact on Trans-Atlantic Spanish. Retrospectives. Part I.” Revista de Estudios Hispánicos (U Puerto Rico), 2: 59-98.