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Osco-Umbrian (Eastern Italic)


Phonetics
The voiced and voiceless stops are conserved, the aspirated voiceless stops gave f both at the beginning of the word and in the middle of the word
Distribution
In Samnium,
Aesernia for the possible dyphthong development *oi>ai, Aufidena and Fagifulae and Tifernus fl. and Corfinium and Cerfennia and Aufinum and Furfo for the intervocalic f, Bovianum for the development *gw>b, Trebula and Trebula Mutuesca for the existence of a related appellative, Teate and Reate and Aveia (?) for the dyphthong development *ei>e, Fucinus lac. for the initial f and the dyphthong development *eu>ou, Fiscellus m. for the initial f and the typical suffix -ell-. Probably (if not Western Italic), also Foruli and Ficulea and Fresilia for the initial f, Cingilia and Interocrium for the existence of related appellatives, Gurgures m. for the development of sonant r into ur

In Picenum (if not Western Italic) Falerio for the initial f, Helvillus fl. for the development *g'h>h

In Umbria Aesis fl. for the possible dyphthong development *oi>ai, Ameria for the rotacism *s>r, Cursula for the development of sonant r into ur, Fulginiae for the development of sonant l into ul, Helvillum and Hispellum for the development *g'h>h, Ocriculum and Trebiae and Tuder and Sarsina and Sestinum for the existence of related appellatives, Tifernum Tiberinum and Tifernum Metaurense for the intervocalic f, Paesinum for the development *kw>p. Possibly (if not Gaulish), also Ostra for the O-grade

In Etruria Ferentum and Falerii and Faesulae and Fregenae for the initial f, Visentium for (...), Biturgia for the shift *gw>b, Sena and Vesidia fl. for the dyphthong development *ei>e, Fescennia for the initial f and the dyphthong development *ei>e, Volaterrae for the existence of related appellatives. Possibly (if not "Pelasgian") also Regae for the conservation of g

In Latium Aefula and Afilae and Aufentus fl. for the intervocalic f, Tibur and Treba and Cominium for the existence of a related appellative, Arpinum for the development *kw>p, Setia for the dyphthong development *ei>e. Possibly (if not Western Italic) also Ficulea and Fidenae and Fabrateria and Ferentinum and Fregellae and Frusino and Formiae for the initial f, Trebula Suffenas for the existence of a related appellative

In Campania Trifanum and Tifata m. and *Alfateria and Allifae and Rufrae and Venafrum for the intervocalic f, Atella and Nola and Pompeii and Nuceria Alfaterna and Trebula Balliensis for the existence of a related appellative, Teanum Sidicinum for the development *ei>e. Possibly (if not Western Italic) also *Falernum for the initial f, Suessa and Sinuessa and Suessula for the consonant cluster

In Hirpinia Tuticum and Taurasia for the existence of a related appellative, Compsa for the consonant cluster, Fratuolum and Fertor for the initial f, Aufidus fl. and Furfane and Alfella for the intervocalic f, Teanum for the dyphthong development *ei>e

In Apulia Forentum for the initial f

In Bruttium Aufugum for the intervocalic f, Consentia for the existence of a related appellative


(Proto-)Latin and Siculian (Western Italic)


According to the reconstruction of the Italian scholar G. Devoto, this is a second IE wave having crossed the whole peninsula. He associates this stratum with the Proto-Villanovian culture and the incineration use. The name "Western Italic" is actually given by Devoto to the branch that I prefer to call "Liguro-Sicanian", to which he inclueds the language of the Siculi. I would distinguish between the Siculi, belonging to this group, and the Sicani, after which I use the name "Liguro-Sicanian" (see below). Moreover, I would include the Opici of the Campania in this branch rather than in the "Liguro-Sicanian" one.
Phonetics

The placenames of this branch can be distinguished from the Eastern Italic or Osco-Umbrian ones because the IE aspirated voiced remain as unaspirated voiced in the middle of the word, while become f in the beginning. Then, following L. R. Palmer, the names Stabiae and Allibae in Campania belong to the language of the Opici. Many other traits are in common with the Eastern Italic branch.

Distribution
In Samnium
Fabaris fl. for the initial f but intervocalic b. Possibly (if not "Daunian") also Duronia for the shift *dh>d, Aquilonia for the preservation of *kw>k

In Picenum (if not Eastern Italic) Falerio for the initial f, Helvillus fl. for the development *g'h>h

In Etruria possibly (if not "Pelasgian") Albinia fl. and Heba for the shift *bh>b, Algae for the shift *gh>g. Possibly (if not Eastern Italic) also Ferentum and Falerii and Fregenae for the initial f

In Latium Alba Longa and Albula fl. and Albunea and Cabum and Norba for the shift *bh>b, Ferentum and Ficana for the initial f, Gabii for the shift *bh>b and the preservation of *gw>g, Algidus m. and Aricia and Bovillae and Bubentum and Camerium and Cingulum and Corbio and Lanuvium and laurentum and Lavinium and Ostia and Pedum and Pometia and Praeneste and Tellenae and Antemnae and Caenina and Collatia and Corniculum and Nomentum and Verrugo and Capitulum Hernicum for the existence of a related appellative. Possibly (if not Eastern Italic) also Crustumerium for the existence of a related appellative, (if not "Liguro-Sicanian") also Tarracina for the preservation of *kw>k

In Campania possibly (if not Eastern Italic) Stabiae for the shift *bh>b

In Bruttium Baletum and Besidiae and Blanda and Medma and Lagaria for the preservation of voiced stops


"Picene"


Distribution
In Samnium
Terventum and *Atessa and *Treste fl. and *Trinius fl. and Aternus fl. and *Tirinus fl. for the shift *d>t, Buca for the shifts *bh>b and *g>k. Possibly (if not Western Italic) also Duronia for the shift *dh>d, Aquilonia for the preservation of *kw

In Picenum Cupra and Cupra Montana and Pausulae for the shift *b>p, Tolentinum and Truentus fl. and Matrinus fl. for the shift *d>t. Possibly (if not Western Italic) also Albula fl. and Beregra, for the shift *bh>b


Gaulish


Distribution
In Picenum possibly
Ricina for the disappearing of initial p and the development of sonant r into ri

In Umbria Sena Gallica and Sentinum and Crinivolum and Vindinum for the existence of related appellatives, Dola for the shift *dh>d. Possibly (if not Eastern Italic), also Ostra for the O-grade

In Etruria Bondelia for the existence of a related appellative.


"Pelasgian"


Distribution
In Etruria
Caere and Cremera fl. and Tarquinia and Volci for the shift *g>k, Sutrium for the shift *d>t, Agylla and Graviscae and Igilium i. for the shift *gh>g, Albinia fl. and Blera and Heba and Salebro for the shift *bh>b, Pyrgi for the dissimilation of the aspirated voiced stops, the shifts *b>p and *g'h>g and the development of sonant r into ur, Corythus for the shift *gw>k, Umbro fl. for the development of sonant m into um

In Latium Thybris fl. for the shifts *t>th and *bh>b


"Liguro-Sicanian"


This stratum has been postulated by the Italian scholar G. Devoto. Based on some placenames (Aetna) or ethnical names (Rutuli) or even appellatives in known languages (Latin rutilus), he reconstructed an old IE wave having interested the Tyrrhenian side of Italy. This branch would have included the Siculi (but I would say, the Sicani), the Oenotri in Lucania and Bruttium, the Opici and Ausoni in Campania, the Rutuli (he says, Proto-Latini) in Latium.

Phonetics
Distribution

In Latium Artena and Astura fl. for the shift *dh>t, Clanis fl. for the shift *g'h>k. Possibly (if not Western Italic) also Tarracina for the preservation of *kw>k

In Campania Savo fl. and Sarnus fl. for the A-grade, Acerrae for the shift *k>kh, Clanius fl. for the shift *gh>k

In Bruttium Aprustum for the shift *bh>p, Crathis fl. and Crotalus fl. and Croto for the shifts *gh>k and *dh>t


Illyrian


Distribution

In Apulia Cerbalus fl. for the preservation of intervocalic *bh, Herdoniae for the preservation of intervocalic *dh, Sipuntum and Butuntum and Brundisium and Hydruntum for the development of sonant n into un, Stulni for the development of sonant l into ul, Iapyx fl. for the initial ia-. Probably (if not Messapian) also Barium for the preservation of intervocalic *bh


Messapian


Distribution

In Apulia *Argetium and Aezetium and Balesium and Uretum and Aletium and Uzentum and Neretum and Veretum for the typical development of the suffix, Manduria for the existence of a related appellative. Possibly (if not "Illyrian") also Rudiae and Carbinium and Norba and Basta and Rudiae for the preservation and de-aspiration of voiceless stops.


Last modified: February 23, 2003
by Antonio Sciarretta
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