具体描述
This is a collection of previously unpublished articles focusing on the following aspects of Portuguese syntax: clause structure, clitic placement, word order variation, pronominal system, verb movement, quantification, and distribution of particles. The articles are written within the principles and parameters framework and contrast Portuguese with other Romance languages.
A Deep Dive into the Intricacies of Early Modern English Phonology: From Chaucer to Shakespeare This comprehensive volume offers an exhaustive exploration of the phonological landscape of Early Modern English (EME), tracing the critical shifts and subtle variations that characterized the language spoken and written between the late 14th and early 17th centuries. Moving beyond simplistic chronological demarcation, this work meticulously charts the dynamic interplay between dialectal variation, sociolinguistic pressures, and the gradual standardization processes that ultimately shaped the sound system we recognize today. The book is structured thematically, allowing for both deep dives into specific phonetic phenomena and a broader understanding of the system as a whole. We begin by establishing the methodological framework necessary for reconstructing EME pronunciation, addressing the inherent challenges posed by relying primarily on orthographic evidence, spelling conventions, and contemporary prescriptive and descriptive linguistic commentary. The analysis heavily incorporates evidence from rhyming patterns in poetry, spelling patterns in standardized texts, and the comparative data derived from historical phonology, particularly concerning the development from Middle English. Part I: Vowel Systems in Flux The initial section focuses intensely on the Great Vowel Shift (GVS), treating it not as a monolithic event, but as a protracted series of articulatory adjustments occurring unevenly across different registers and regions. Chapter 1 meticulously examines the pre-shift vowel inventory inherited from Chaucerian Middle English, detailing the short and long vowel contrasts that governed Late Middle English phonology. Particular attention is paid to the qualitative distinctions between the tense and lax vowels and their subsequent trajectories. Chapter 2 then dissects the initial stages of the GVS. It argues persuasively that the raising of /iː/ and /uː/ were perhaps the earliest observable movements, analyzing their reflex in early printing practices. The chapter scrutinizes dialectal pockets where these shifts lagged or followed divergent paths, using evidence from orthographic spellings like meete vs. mete. Chapter 3 provides an extended analysis of the raising and diphthongization of the mid-long vowels, /eː/ and /oː/. It investigates the varied outcomes of /eː/—leading variously to modern /iː/ (as in meet) or the fronted monophthong in certain dialects—and the complex development of /oː/ into /uː/ (as in boon). The evidence from early dictionaries and glossaries is leveraged here to plot the chronological spread of these phonemes across the English linguistic territory. The final chapter of this section tackles the fate of the short vowels and the interaction between phonemic length and vowel quality. It contrasts the relatively stable short vowel system with the dramatic restructuring of the long vowels, paying close attention to the leveling or merger of certain short vowels in specific lexical items, setting the stage for later phonetic shifts. Part II: Consonant Articulation and Distribution While the vowel system underwent revolutionary change, the consonant inventory of EME remained more stable, though not static. This section explores the subtle, yet significant, modifications in consonant production and distribution. Chapter 4 focuses on the status of the velar fricatives /x/ and /ɣ/. It traces their weakening, their substitution by glottal /h/ (particularly in initial positions), and their eventual loss in most environments, noting how this process influenced the spelling of words like night and through. Chapter 5 addresses the articulation of the dental fricatives /θ/ and /ð/. It explores the persistence of the voicing/voiceless contrast and the sociolinguistic dimensions of their application, particularly in grammatical function words, contrasting the conservative spellings with potential contemporary pronunciation variations found in marginal texts. Chapter 6 is dedicated to the liquids, /l/ and /r/. It provides a detailed comparative study of rhoticity across the EME spectrum, arguing that while a rhotic pronunciation was likely the default in many regions, the seeds of non-rhoticity were being sown in influential southeastern dialects, evidenced by orthographic inconsistencies in pre-rhoticization spellings. Part III: Stress, Prosody, and the Lexicon The final major section moves beyond individual segments to examine suprasegmental features and the lexical integration of foreign vocabulary. Chapter 7 examines the role of primary stress in EME, especially concerning the shift of stress patterns in words borrowed from French or Latin. The analysis demonstrates how shifting stress boundaries created phonotactic possibilities that were unavailable in earlier periods and how these shifts contributed to the overall rhythmic profile of the language. Chapter 8 investigates the process of phonological assimilation and reduction, focusing on the development of weak forms and clitics. The chapter explores the increasing tendency toward consonant cluster simplification in rapid speech, using instances of metathesis and syncope as key data points. Chapter 9 offers a rich case study analyzing the phonology embedded within Renaissance drama. By examining the verse of Marlowe and the early plays of Shakespeare, the book reveals how playwrights manipulated expectations regarding pronunciation for comedic or rhetorical effect, providing invaluable, albeit biased, insights into contemporary auditory reality. This chapter specifically analyzes lines where metrical exigencies force a reading that contradicts standard modern assumptions about EME word forms. Conclusion: Towards Standardization The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, mapping the geographical diffusion of phonological innovations across the British Isles and placing the EME sound system firmly within the continuum leading to Modern English. It emphasizes that the period under study represents a critical linguistic crucible, forging the phonological norms that would eventually underpin the stability achieved during the subsequent Restoration period. This volume serves as an essential resource for historical linguists, philologists, and scholars of early modern literature seeking a rigorous, evidence-based reconstruction of how the language of Shakespeare truly sounded.
