Vowel sequences in Maltese sound form I verbs

Abstract

This article provides an analysis of the historical phonological development of Maltese sound Form I verbs, tracing their evolution from Proto-Arabic. Building on the foundational work of van Putten (2020), who identified the exceptionless sound changes governing Maltese short vowels, this study presents both the regular phonological developments and the analogical changes that have influenced the vocalism of these verbs. On the basis of a comprehensive dataset of over 240 verbs, the study (a) reveals the differential effects on specific vowel sequences of different phonetic environments (including guttural and emphatic consonants), and (b) examines the impact of analogical restructuring on the Perfect and Imperfect forms of verbs, both between different tense–aspect forms of individual verb lexemes and across different lexemes. By categorizing these verbs into distinct classes based on their phonological behaviour, the article elucidates the systematic processes underlying their historical development. This work, thus, not only enhances our understanding of Maltese morphophonology but also contributes to broader discussions on language change within the context of Semitic languages, and the interaction of regular sound change and analogy in morphophonological change more generally.

Dan l-artiklu joffri analiżi tal-iżvilupp fonoloġiku storiku tal-verbi sħaħ tal-Ewwel Forma fil-Malti, bl-evoluzzjoni tagħhom mill-Proto-Għarbi. L-istudju jitlaq mix-xogħol fundamentali ta’ van Putten (2020) li jidentifika l-bidliet fonetiċi bla eċċezzjoni fil-vokali qosra tal-Malti, u jippreżenta kemm l-iżviluppi fonoloġiċi regolari kif ukoll il-bidliet analoġiċi li influwenzaw il-vokaliżmi ta’ dawn il-verbi. Permezz ta’ ġabra komprensiva ta’ aktar minn 240 verb, l-istudju (a) jikxef l-effetti ta’ kuntesti fonetiċi differenti (inklużi l-konsonanti gutturali u enfatiċi) fuq sekwenzi vokaliċi speċifiċi, u (b) jistħarreġ l-impatt tar-ristrutturar analoġiku fuq l-għamla tal-Perfett u l-Imperfett tal-verbi, sew fi ħdan lessema waħda u sew minn lessema għal oħra. Bit-tqassim ta’ dawn il-verbi f’kategoriji distinti skont l-imġiba fonoloġika tagħhom, l-artiklu juri l-proċessi sistematiċi fl-iżvilupp storiku tagħhom. Għalhekk, dan ix-xogħol mhux biss jgħinna nifhmu aħjar il-morfofonoloġija tal-Malti imma jieħu sehem ukoll fid-diskussjoni usa’ dwar il-bidla lingwistika fl-ilsna Semitiċi, u r-relazzjoni talbidla fil-ħoss regolari mal-analoġija fil-bidla morfofonoloġika b’mod ġenerali.