Koineization in Medieval Spanish (Contributions to the Sociology of Language [Csl])

How and why do changes happen when and where they do? Is it possible to explain changes that occurred centuries ago? These are the central questions addressed in this book, in which the author argues that the development of numerous features of medieval (and modern) Spanish can best be explained as the results of koineization, a process in which mixing among speakers of different dialects leads to the rapid formation of a new mixed and generally simplified variety. The book includes a complete introduction to koineization and detailed study of three stages of dialect mixing in medieval Spanish. Acknowledgements 6 1. Introduction 12 2. Koines and koineization 20 2.1. Koine and koines 20 2.2. Models of koineization 33 2.3. Elaborating the process model: Conditions of speaker activity 58 2.4. Observing koineization: The Milton Keynes project 74 2.5. Koineization and other contact phenomena 84 2.6. The model and its use 100 3. The Burgos phase 105 3.1. Social history 105 3.2. Previous discussion of language change in early Castile 115 3.3. Linguistic changes 123 3.4. Conclusion 154 4. The Toledo phase 156 4.1. Social history 156 4.2. Koineization and language spread/dialect leveling 164 4.3. Linguistic changes 170 4.4. Conclusion 225 5. The Seville phase 226 5.1. Social history 226 5.2. Linguistic changes 233 5.3. Conclusion 267 6. Conclusions 268 Maps 280 Notes 285 References 313 Index 343 The Contributions to the Sociology of Language series features publications dealing with sociolinguistic theory, methods, findings and applications. It addresses the study of language in society in its broadest sense, as a truly international and interdisciplinary field in which various approaches – theoretical and empirical – supplement and complement each other. The series invites the attention of scholars interested in language in society from a broad range of disciplines – anthropology, education, history, linguistics, political science, and sociology. To discuss your book idea or submit a proposal, please contact Natalie Fecher.