Schwa and the loi de position in Southern French. Issue 2 (July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: EYCHENNE, JULIEN
• Is Part Of: Journal of French language studies. Volume 24:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 223
• Page End: 253
• Publication Date: 2014-07
• Subjects: French language -- Periodicals; 440.5
• DOI: 10.1017/S0959269513000173
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-2695

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>This paper investigates the alternation of mid-open and mid-close vowels in southern French, a pattern known as the <italic>loi de position</italic>, and its relation to schwa. I offer a critical survey of the main analyses that have been put forward in the literature, showing how different conceptions of schwa influence the interpretation of the <italic>loi de position</italic>. I demonstrate that even in varieties where the pattern is considered fully productive, there are a number of exceptional cases that lend themselves to a usage-based approach. I develop an analysis of the phenomenon in the framework of Cognitive Grammar: the <italic>loi de position</italic> is formalized as the result of the interplay between substantive and symbolic constructions which emerge through usage.</p> </abstract>