“REVERSE” ORDER OF SLAVIC PALATALIZATIONS

Abstract

The historical phonetics of Slavic languages inevitably raises the question of the origin of the so-called second and third palatalizations (*k > *c), to clarify their articulatory causes and historical parallels for the palatalizations themselves - or for their components. The accepted names of Slavic palatalizations (“first”, “second”, “third”) are conditional. How much they are conditional is the question that will be attempted to reveal in this small study. The article considers the model of Slavic palatalizations that combines the models by D. Cohen and H. Lunt, i. e. the following order of palatalizations: progressive, then 2 regressive (that gives *c), then 1 regressive (that gives *č). Advantages of this model are shown, and the relative chronology of sound changes leading to the observed system of Slavic palatalizations is described in detail. This approach helps us to re-analyze the cases of progressive palatalization in Slavic and propose a new formula for it, leaving out the right context and position after ę, which is explained differently. The new formula looks as follows: K after {r̥, ī/ĭ, ū/ou (questioned), š}. Then a depalatalization is observed before ū/ŭ, n, l, r, which is unambiguously late in case of ū. This formula leads us to relation of Slavic progressive palatalization to Pedersen’s RUKI law in satəm languages, if we consider both of them as progressive assimilation of tongue retraction feature. Reflex of *Kti might be one more consequence of this assimilation.