A Contribution to the History of the Unaccented Vowels in Old French
From the INTRODUCTION.

In all languages possessing a well developed expiratory accent there is found a tendency to weaken the syllables which stand on the lower stages of accentuation. The energy devoted to the production of the syllable on which the principle accent rests makes necessary a reduction in the force of the expiration of the other syllables of the word. The vowels of these syllables then show a loss of sonority; and are liable to be reduced to that quality which demands the least amount of expiratory force for their articulation. Only that part is left which is absolutely necessary for the existence of the syllable. Or, in other cases, the reduction may go still farther. Then the weaker syllables disappear entirely; the energy once expended on their production goes to swell the stress given to the more highly accented syllables, and they lose their independent existence. To observe the effect of these tendencies, we have only to compare a language with a chromatic-or musical-accent with one possessing a strong expiratory stress. In the former, all the vowels are articulated distinctly and generally preserved through long periods of development; in the latter, they are first reduced in force, their articulation is slurred or hasty, and they often disappear entirely.
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A Contribution to the History of the Unaccented Vowels in Old French
From the INTRODUCTION.

In all languages possessing a well developed expiratory accent there is found a tendency to weaken the syllables which stand on the lower stages of accentuation. The energy devoted to the production of the syllable on which the principle accent rests makes necessary a reduction in the force of the expiration of the other syllables of the word. The vowels of these syllables then show a loss of sonority; and are liable to be reduced to that quality which demands the least amount of expiratory force for their articulation. Only that part is left which is absolutely necessary for the existence of the syllable. Or, in other cases, the reduction may go still farther. Then the weaker syllables disappear entirely; the energy once expended on their production goes to swell the stress given to the more highly accented syllables, and they lose their independent existence. To observe the effect of these tendencies, we have only to compare a language with a chromatic-or musical-accent with one possessing a strong expiratory stress. In the former, all the vowels are articulated distinctly and generally preserved through long periods of development; in the latter, they are first reduced in force, their articulation is slurred or hasty, and they often disappear entirely.
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A Contribution to the History of the Unaccented Vowels in Old French

A Contribution to the History of the Unaccented Vowels in Old French

by William Pierce Shepard
A Contribution to the History of the Unaccented Vowels in Old French

A Contribution to the History of the Unaccented Vowels in Old French

by William Pierce Shepard

Overview

From the INTRODUCTION.

In all languages possessing a well developed expiratory accent there is found a tendency to weaken the syllables which stand on the lower stages of accentuation. The energy devoted to the production of the syllable on which the principle accent rests makes necessary a reduction in the force of the expiration of the other syllables of the word. The vowels of these syllables then show a loss of sonority; and are liable to be reduced to that quality which demands the least amount of expiratory force for their articulation. Only that part is left which is absolutely necessary for the existence of the syllable. Or, in other cases, the reduction may go still farther. Then the weaker syllables disappear entirely; the energy once expended on their production goes to swell the stress given to the more highly accented syllables, and they lose their independent existence. To observe the effect of these tendencies, we have only to compare a language with a chromatic-or musical-accent with one possessing a strong expiratory stress. In the former, all the vowels are articulated distinctly and generally preserved through long periods of development; in the latter, they are first reduced in force, their articulation is slurred or hasty, and they often disappear entirely.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781663579737
Publisher: Barnes & Noble Press
Publication date: 10/06/2020
Pages: 106
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.25(d)

About the Author

William Pierce Shepard (1870--1948) was an American Romanist, Provençalist and Medievalist.

Shepard received his doctorate from the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg with the thesis A contribution to the history of the unaccented vowels in Old French (Easton, Pa. 1897, o. O. 2010) and taught from 1896 to 1940 at Hamilton College in Clinton ( Oneida County, New York). There Ezra Pound was one of his students. Shepard was the most important American Provencalist of his time.
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Reference
Foreign Language Study Aids & Dictionaries
French Language Reference
Textbooks - French Language
Reference
Foreign Language Study Aids & Dictionaries
French Language Reference
Textbooks - French Language

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