Phonological Results of an Ancient Border Shift: Vocalic Mergers in Northeastern Slovenia
Grant H. Lundberg
Abstract. The Slovene dialect area of Haloze, located to the southeast Ptuj along present Slovene-Croatian national border, is essentially part Pannonian base, yet fieldwork documents an unexpected phonological development in Haloze that connects it ancient Kajkavian Croatian vocalic merger. At least two explanations for this village dialects seem possible. These mergers could be result relatively recent contact area, or they have resulted from border shift. This paper argues both linguistic and historical data indicate merger Common Slavic jat jers took place during tenth thirteenth century control by Hungary Croatia. 1. Introduction which my own (See map Figure 1 below.) will provide explanation unusual occurrence, using a synthesis available new information. analysis also insights on ethnic, political between Slovenia Croatia, as well comment complexity deciphering around borders, where material ideological concerns are often intertwined. (1) [FIGURE OMITTED] 2. Historical Perspective Most Slavists agree Slavs who would much later known Czechs, Slovaks, Slovenes, Croatians entered plain alpine region just north Adriatic mid-sixth century. They may arrived Carpathian basin with some preexisting divisions Ramovs 1933 Andersen 1999), but little about early distinctions among Western South Slavs. It true earliest kingdoms these united parts Alpine regions. (2) Samo's seventh-century kingdom Bohemian (Kos 1955: 77), ninth-century Pribina, Kocel, Greater Moravia included groups 116, Guldescu 98). We know today northeastern Slovenia, was because Prince Pribina Kocel had connections 1969: 83). There evidence Late period Slovene, Kajkavian, central Slovak formed innovating (Greenberg 2000: 41). With Carolingian defeat Avars at end eighth century, confluence Drava, Mura, Dravinja--the Haloze--became region. confirmed beginning ninth when Charlemagne made Drava Salzburg Aquileian patriarchates. arrival Magyars establishment Hungarian nation late eleventh centuries, became disputed areas controlled Germanic, Hungarian, feudal lords. dispute continued over course nearly five centuries. Although its approximate form unstable permeable fifteenth seems defining effect development. regularly stated side exhibit developments, while developments (Loncaric 156). …
Journal of Slavic Linguistics