Areal Linguistics Within the Phonological Atlas of Europe : Loan Phonemes and Their Distribution

In contrast to many other levels of language, there is as yet no comprehensive areal-linguistic description of the segmental phonological properties of the languages of Europe. To complement the synchronic picture of the languages of Europe, it is time to take stock of their phoneme inventories to provide an empirical basis for generalizations about the similarities and dissimilarities of the languages of Europe. The best way to visualize the areal phonology of Europe is that of the Phonological Atlas of Europe ((mailto:Phon@Europe) Phon@Europe ) which features the isoglosses of phonological phenomena on a plethora of maps. As a prequel to (mailto:Phon@Europe) Phon@Europe , this study not only outlines the goals, methodology, sample, and theory of the project but also focuses on loan phonemes whose diffusion across the 210 doculects of the sample yields meaningful patterns. The patterns are indicative of recent processes of convergence which have transformed a diverse phonological mosaic into a superficially homogeneous linguistic area. The developments which have led to the present situation are traced back through the history of the sample languages. In contrast to many other levels of language, there is as yet no comprehensive areal-linguistic description of the segmental phonological properties of the languages of Europe. To complement the synchronic picture of the languages of Europe, it is time to take stock of their phoneme inventories to provide an empirical basis for generalizations about the similarities and dissimilarities of the languages of Europe. The best way to visualize the areal phonology of Europe is that of the Phonological Atlas of Europe ([Phon@Europe](mailto:Phon@Europe)) which features the isoglosses of phonological phenomena on a plethora of maps. As a prequel to [Phon@Europe](mailto:Phon@Europe), this study not only outlines the goals, methodology, sample, and theory of the project but also focuses on loan phonemes whose diffusion across the 210 doculects of the sample yields meaningful patterns. The patterns are indicative of recent processes of convergence which have transformed a diverse phonological mosaic into a superficially homogeneous linguistic area. The developments which have led to the present situation are traced back through the history of the sample languages. Acknowledgments 7 Contents 9 List of Abbreviations 15 List of Figures 17 List of Maps 21 List of Tables 23 Part A: The Phonological Atlas of Europe – Ground Plan 29 1 Introduction 29 2 Goals 35 3 In a nutshell: the phenomena featured in Phon@Europe 39 4 Previous research 42 5 Theory 96 6 Methodology 104 7 Frame of reference 107 8 Terminology 110 9 Conventions 111 10 Europe 114 11 Sample 117 12 Sources 125 13 Data 128 14 Maps and chapters 133 Part B: Loan Phonemes in Europe – Qualities, Quantities, and Geography 143 15 Loan phonemes 143 16 Two globally-oriented projects on loan phonemes 154 17 Loan phonemes in Phon@Europe. Part 1 161 17 Loan phonemes in Phon@Europe. Part 2 358 18 Convergence (and divergence) in Europe – the contribution of loan phonemes 532 19 Conclusions 552 References 561 Index of Authors 587 Index of Languages 594 Index of Subjects 601 Appendix 1: Sample 605 Appendix 2: Maps 615