Diphthong hardening

Under Diphthongverhärtung is meant the development of a diphthong to a combination of a simple vowel with a consonant . This noticeable phonetic phenomenon can be found in Romansh and Franco-Provençal dialects. Since the plosive sound is usually a k (or g ), the French-language literature also speaks of a k parasite .

The diphthong hardening turns a bouv into a bocf ( Upper Engadine Romanic for ox ) or a crousch into a crocsch ( Oberhalbsteiner Romanic for cross ). This additional k or c remains limited to the dialect level; it was not codified in the written language. In the Rhaeto-Romanic language area, this phenomenon is limited to the Oberhalbstein , Bergün and parts of the Upper Engadine . Possibly under the influence of the written language and the neighboring Lower Engadine Romansh , the diphthong hardening in Upper Engadin Romansh has been greatly suppressed in recent decades.

Examples from the Franco-Provencal dialect of Fénis in the Aosta Valley are soucsiye versus French semelles ('sole') and victo versus French vite ('fast').

literature

• C. Martin Lutta: The dialect of Bergün. Halle 1923 (p. 313 ff., Available online from the Bibliothèque Nationale de France )
• Léon de Lavallaz: Essai sur le patois d'Hérémence [ Central Valais]. Paris 1899/1935, pp. 174-181.