An acoustic analysis of metaphony in the dialects of the Lausberg Area (Southern Italy)

Abstract

This acoustic analysis focuses on metaphony - a type of regressive vowel harmony - in a restricted dialectal area in Southern Italy, across the border between Basilicata and Calabria, the so-called “Lausberg Area” (Lausberg, 1939). The first aim is to relate synchronically metaphony to V₁ CV₂ coarticulation, in which V₂ influences V₁ and can lead to associated sound changes. Secondly, we want to determine if metaphony varies between younger and older speakers and between males and females. Overall, the results showed an influence mainly of suffix vowel height on mid stem vowels in both age groups. The generally weaker metaphonic influence in younger speakers – especially in young men – suggests their tendency to converge to Standard Italian as regards stem vowel quality.