On the evolution of Maltese weak and geminate form I verbs

Abstract

This article charts the evolution of weak and geminate verbs in Maltese from their Proto-Arabic origins, continuing the work begun in Lucas, Spagnol & Brown (2025) on a comprehensive database of the Form I verbs in use in contemporary standard Maltese. We consider hollow, geminate, final-weak, initial-weak and irregular verbs, focusing on the evolution of the stem vowels of both the Perfect and the Imperfect, and showing how they can be accounted for on the basis of exceptionless sound laws, together with a small number of well-motivated analogical changes.

Dan l-artiklu jsegwi l-iżvilupp tal-verbi dgħajfin u torox fil-Malti min-nisel Proto-Għarbi tagħhom, u b’hekk jibni fuq ix-xogħol mibdi minn Lucas, Spagnol u Brown (2025) dwar ġabra sħiħa ta’ verbi tal-ewwel forma użati fil-Malti standard kontemporanju. Nittrattaw il-verbi moħfijin, torrox, neqsin, xebbihin u irregolari, u niffukaw fuq l-evoluzzjoni tal-vokali fiz-zokk tal-Perfett u l-Imperfett, u nuru kif jistgħu jiġu spjegati skont regoli fonetiċi bla eċċezzjonijiet, flimkien ma’ għadd żgħir ta’ bidliet analoġiċi b’motivazzjoni ċara.