Proto-Italic | |
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Reconstruction of | Italic languages |
Region | Italian Peninsula |
Era | c. 1000 BC |
Reconstructed ancestor | |
Lower-order reconstructions |
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Part of a series on |
Indo-European topics |
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The Proto-Italic language is the ancestor of the Italic languages, most notably Latin and its descendants, the Romance languages. It is not directly attested in writing, but has been reconstructed to some degree through the comparative method. Proto-Italic descended from the earlier Proto-Indo-European language. [1]
Although an equation between archeological and linguistic evidence cannot be established with certainty, the Proto-Italic language is generally associated with the Terramare (1700–1150 BC) and Villanovan cultures (900–700 BC). [2]
On the other hand, work in glottochronology has argued that Proto-Italic split off from the western Proto-Indo-European dialects some time before 2500 BC. [3] [4] It was originally spoken by Italic tribes north of the Alps before they moved south into the Italian Peninsula during the second half of the 2nd millennium BC. Linguistic evidence also points to early contacts with Celtic tribes and Proto-Germanic speakers. [2]
A list of regular phonetic changes from Proto-Indo-European to Proto-Italic follows. Because Latin is the only well-attested Italic language, it forms the main source for the reconstruction of Proto-Italic. It is therefore not always clear whether certain changes apply to all of Italic (a pre-PI change), or only to Latin (a post-PI change), because of lack of conclusive evidence.
The laryngeals are a class of hypothetical PIE sounds *h₁, *h₂, *h₃ that usually disappeared in late PIE, leaving coloring effects on adjacent vowels. Their disappearance left some distinctive sound combinations in Proto-Italic. In the changes below, the # follows standard practice in denoting a word boundary; that is, # at the beginning denotes word-initial. [10] H denotes any of the three laryngeals.
The simpler Italic developments of laryngeals are shared by many other Indo-European branches:
More characteristic of Italic are the interactions of laryngeals with sonorant consonants. Here, R represents a sonorant, and C a consonant.
Bilabial | Dental | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Labial–velar | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nasal | m | n | (ŋ) | |||
Plosive | p b | t d | k ɡ | kʷ ɡʷ | ||
Fricative | ɸ (β) | θ? ð? | s (z) | x (ɣ) | xʷ? ɣʷ? | |
Trill | r | |||||
Lateral | l | |||||
Approximant | j | w | ||||
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Proto-Italic had the following diphthongs: [12]
Osthoff's law remained productive in Proto-Italic. This caused long vowels to shorten when they were followed by a sonorant and another consonant in the same syllable: VːRC > VRC. As the long diphthongs were also VːR sequences, they could only occur word-finally, and were shortened elsewhere. Long vowels were also shortened before word-final *-m. This is the cause of the many occurrences of short *-a- in, for example, the endings of the ā-stems or of ā-verbs.
Proto-Italic words may have had a fixed stress on the first syllable, a stress pattern which probably existed in most descendants in at least some periods. In Latin, initial stress is posited for the Old Latin period, after which it gave way to the "Classical" stress pattern. However, fixed initial stress may alternatively be an areal feature postdating Proto-Italic, since the vowel reductions which it is posited to explain are not found before the mid-first millennium BC. [14]
Furthermore, the persistence of Proto-Indo-European mobile accent is required in early Proto-Italic for Brent Vine's (2006) reformulation of Thurneysen-Havet's law (where pre-tonic *ou > *au) to work. [15]
Nouns could have one of three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter. They declined for seven of the eight Proto-Indo-European cases: nominative, vocative, accusative, genitive, dative, ablative and locative. The instrumental case had been lost. Nouns also declined for number in singular and plural. The dual number was no longer distinguished, although a few remnants (like Latin duo, ambō) still preserved some form of the inherited dual inflection.
This class corresponds to the second declension of Latin, basically divided into masculine and neuter nouns. It descends from the Proto-Indo-European thematic declension. Most nouns in this class were masculine or neuter, but there may have been some feminine nouns as well (e.g., names of plants such as Latin "papyrus").
*agros [17] m. "field" | *jugom [18] n. "yoke" | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural | |
Nominative | *agros < PIE *h₂éǵros | *agrōs < PIE *h₂éǵroes ( *agroi) | *jugom < PIE *yugóm | *jugā < PIE *yugéh₂ |
Vocative | *agre < *h₂éǵre | *agrōs < *h₂éǵroes ( *agroi) | ||
Accusative | *agrom < *h₂éǵrom | *agrons < *h₂éǵroms | ||
Genitive | *agrosjo < *h₂éǵrosyo *agrī | *agrom < *h₂éǵroHom | *jugosjo < *yugósyo *jugī | *jugom < *yugóHom |
Dative | *agrōi < *h₂éǵroey | *agrois < *h₂éǵroysu? | *jugōi < *yugóey | *jugois < *yugóysu? |
Ablative | *agrōd < *h₂éǵread | *jugōd < *yugéad | ||
Locative | *agroi? < *h₂éǵroy *agrei? < *h₂éǵrey | *jugoi? < *yugóy *jugei? < *yugéy |
This class corresponds to the first declension of Latin. It derives primarily from Proto-Indo-European nouns in *-eh₂-, and contained mostly feminine nouns, and maybe a few masculines, such as names of jobs in Classical Latin, some of them being loanwords from Ancient Greek (e.g., incola, nauta, poeta).
*farβā (< earlier *farðā), f. beard | ||
---|---|---|
Singular | Plural | |
Nominative | *farβā < PIE *bʰardʰéh₂ | *farβās < PIE *bʰardʰéh₂es |
Vocative | *farβa < *bʰardʰéh₂ | |
Accusative | *farβām < *bʰardʰā́m | *farβans < *bʰardʰéh₂m̥s |
Genitive | *farβās < *bʰardʰéh₂s | *farβāzom < PIE *bʰardʰéh₂soHom < *bʰardʰéh₂oHom |
Dative | *farβāi < *bʰardʰéh₂ey | *farβais < *bʰardʰéh₂su? |
Ablative | *farβād < *bʰardʰéh₂s | |
Locative | *farβāi < *bʰardʰéh₂i |
This class contained nouns with stems ending in a variety of consonants. They included root nouns, n-stems, r-stems, s-stems and t-stems among others. It corresponds to the third declension of Latin, which also includes the i-stems, originally a distinct class.
Masculine and feminine nouns declined alike, while neuters had different forms in the nominative/accusative/vocative.
*sniks [25] f. "snow" | *kord [26] n. "heart" | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural | |
Nominative-Vocative | *sniks < PIE *snéygʷʰs | *sniɣʷes < PIE *snéygʷʰes | *kord < PIE *ḱr̥d | *kordā < PIE *ḱérdh₂ |
Accusative | *sniɣʷəm < *snéygʷʰm̥ | *sniɣʷəns < *snéygʷʰm̥s | ||
Genitive | *sniɣʷes < *snigʷʰés *sniɣʷos | *sniɣʷom < *snigʷʰóHom | *kordes < *ḱr̥dés *kordos | *kordom < *ḱr̥dóHom |
Dative | *sniɣʷei < *snigʷʰéy | *sniɣʷ(V?)βos < *snigʷʰmós | *kordei < *ḱr̥déy | *kord(V?)βos < *ḱr̥dmós |
Ablative | *sniɣʷi < *snigʷʰés (*sniɣʷa?) | *kordi < *ḱr̥dés (*korde?) | ||
Locative | *sniɣʷi < *snéygʷʰi | *kordi < *ḱérdi |
Nouns in this class often had a somewhat irregular nominative singular form. This created several subtypes, based on the final consonant of the stem.
Other notes:
This class corresponds to the nouns of the Latin third declension that had the genitive plural ending -ium (rather than -um). In Latin, the consonant stems gradually merged with this class. This process continued into the historical era; e.g. in Caesar's time (c. 50 BC) the i-stems still had a distinct accusative plural ending -īs, but this was replaced with the consonant-stem ending -ēs by the time of Augustus (c. AD 1). In Proto-Italic, as in the other Italic languages, i-stems were still very much a distinct type and showed no clear signs of merging.
Masculine and feminine nouns declined alike, while neuters had different forms in the nominative/accusative/vocative.
*mentis [28] f. "mind" | *mari [29] n. "sea, lake" | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural | |
Nominative-Vocative | *mentis < PIE *méntis | *mentēs < PIE *ménteyes | *mari < PIE *móri | *marjā (*-īā?) < *marī < PIE *mórih₂ |
Accusative | *mentim < *méntim | *mentins < *méntims | ||
Genitive | *mənteis < *mn̥téys *məntjes | *məntjom < *mn̥téyoHom | *mareis < *m̥réys *marjes | *marjom < *m̥réyoHom |
Dative | *məntēi < *mn̥téyey | *məntiβos < *mn̥tímos | *marēi < *m̥réyey | *mariβos < *m̥rímos |
Ablative | *məntīd < *mn̥téys | *marīd < *m̥réys | ||
Locative | *məntei < *mn̥téy | *marei < *m̥réy |
This class corresponds to the fourth declension of Latin. They were historically parallel to the i-stems, and still showed many similar forms, with j/i being replaced with w/u. However, sound changes had made them somewhat different over time.
*portus [32] m. "harbour, port" | *péḱu [33] n. "cattle" | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural | |
Nominative-Vocative | *portus < PIE *pértus | *portowes? < PIE *pértewes *portous? | *peku? (*-ū?) < PIE *péḱu | *pekwā (*-ūā?) < *pekū < PIE *péḱuh₂ |
Accusative | *portum < *pértum | *portuns < *pértums | ||
Genitive | *portous < *pr̥téws *portwos *portwes | *portwom < *pr̥téwoHom | *pekous < *pḱéws *pekwos*pekwes | *pekwom (-owom?) < *pḱéwoHom |
Dative | *portowei < *pr̥téwey | *portuβos < *pr̥túmos | *pekowei < *pḱéwey | *pekuβos < *pḱúmos |
Ablative | *portūd < *pr̥téws | *pekūd < *pḱéws | ||
Locative | *portowi? < *pr̥téwi | *pekou? < *pḱéw *pekowi? < *pḱéwi |
Adjectives inflected much the same as nouns. Unlike nouns, adjectives did not have inherent genders. Instead, they inflected for all three genders, taking on the same gender-form as the noun they referred to.
Adjectives followed the same inflectional classes of nouns. The largest were the o/ā-stem adjectives (which inflected as o-stems in the masculine and neuter, and as ā-stems in the feminine), and the i-stems. Present active participles of verbs (in *-nts) and the comparative forms of adjectives (in *-jōs) inflected as consonant stems. There were also u-stem adjectives originally, but they had been converted to i-stems by adding i-stem endings onto the existing u-stem, thus giving the nominative singular *-wis.
Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Masculine (pl.) | Feminine (pl.) | Neuter (pl.) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nom. | *alβos < PIE *albʰós | *alβā < PIE *albʰéh₂ | *alβom < PIE *albʰóm | *alβōs < *albʰóes (*alβoi) | *alβās < *albʰéh₂es | *alβā < *albʰéh₂ |
Gen. | *alβosjo < *albʰósyo (*alβī) | *alβās < *albʰéh₂s | *alβosjo < *albʰósyo (*alβī) | *alβom < *albʰóHom | *alβāzōm < PIE *albʰéh₂soHom ( < *albʰéh₂oHom) | *alβom < *albʰóHom |
Dat. | *alβōi < *albʰóey | *alβāi < *albʰéh₂ey | *alβōi < *albʰóey | *alβois < *albʰóysu | *alβais < *albʰéh₂su | *alβois < *albʰóysu |
Acc. | *alβom < *albʰóm | *alβam < *albʰā́m | *alβom < *albʰóm | *alβons < *albʰóms | *alβans < *albʰéh₂m̥s | *alβā < *albʰéh₂ |
Voc. | *alβe < *albʰé | *alβa < *albʰéh₂ | *alβom < *albʰóm | *alβōs < *albʰóes (*alβoi) | *alβās < *albʰéh₂es | *alβā < *albʰéh₂ |
Abl. | *alβōd < *albʰéad | *alβād < *albʰéh₂s | *alβōd < *albʰéad | *alβois < *albʰóysu | *alβais < *albʰéh₂su | *alβois < *albʰóysu |
Loc. | *alβei < *albʰéy | *alβāi < *albʰéh₂i | *alβei < *albʰéy | *alβois < *albʰóysu | *alβais < *albʰéh₂su | *alβois < *albʰóysu |
Declension of Personal Pronouns: [37]
Singular | 1st Person | 2nd Person | Reflexive |
---|---|---|---|
Nominative | *egō < PIE *éǵh₂ | *tū < PIE *túh₂ | — |
Accusative | *mē, *me < *me | *tē, *te < *twé ~ *te | *sē, *se < PIE *swé ~ *se |
Genitive | *moi, *mei < *moy | *toi, *tei < *toy, *téwe | *soi, *swei < *soy, *séwe |
Dative | *meɣei < *méǵʰye | *teβei < *tébʰye | *seβei < *sébʰye |
Ablative | *med < *h₁med | *ted < *twét | *sed < *swét |
Possessive | *meos < PIE *mewos? *meyos? < *h₁mós | *towos < PIE *tewos < *twos | *sowos < PIE *sewós < *swós |
Plural | 1st Person | 2nd Person | Reflexive |
Nominative | *nōs < *nos | *wōs < *wos | — |
Accusative | *nōs < *nos | *wōs < *wos | *sē, *se |
Genitive | *nosterom? < *n̥s(er)o-? | *westerom? < *yus(er)o-? | *soi, *swei |
Dative | *nōβei < *n̥smey | *wōβei < *usmey | *seβei |
Ablative | *sed | ||
Possessive | *nosteros < *nsteros? | *westeros < *usteros? | *sowos |
Note: For the third person pronoun, Proto-Italic *is would have been used.
Declension of Relative Pronouns: [38]
Singular | Masculine | Neuter | Feminine |
---|---|---|---|
Nominative | *kʷoi < PIE *kʷós?*kʷó? | *kʷod < PIE *kʷód | *kʷāi < PIE *kʷéh₂ |
Accusative | |||
Genitive | *kʷojjos < *kʷósyo | ||
Dative | *kʷojjei, *kʷozmoi < *kʷósmey | ||
Ablative | *kʷōd < *kʷósmōd? | *kʷād < ? | |
Locative | ? < *kʷósmi | ? < *kʷósmi | ? |
Plural | Masculine | Neuter | Feminine |
Nominative | *kʷoi, *kʷōs | *kʷā, *kʷai | *kʷās |
Accusative | *kʷons | *kʷāns | |
Genitive | *kʷozom | *kʷazom | |
Dative | *kʷois | ||
Ablative | |||
Locative |
Declension of Interrogative Pronouns: [38]
Singular | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
---|---|---|---|
Nominative | *kʷis < PIE *kʷís | *kʷid < PIE *kʷíd | |
Accusative | *kʷim < *kʷím | ||
Genitive | *kʷejjos < *kʷésyo | ||
Dative | *kʷejjei, *kʷezmoi < *kʷésmey | ||
Ablative | *kʷōd < *kʷéd? | *kʷād < *kʷéd? | *kʷōd < *kʷéd? |
Locative | ? < *kʷésmi | ? < *kʷésmi | ? < *kʷésmi |
Plural | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
Nominative | *kʷēs < *kʷéyes | *kʷī, *kʷia < *kʷíh₂ | |
Accusative | *kʷins < *kʷíms | ||
Genitive | *kʷejzom?, *kʷozom? < *kʷéysom | ||
Dative | *kʷiβos < kʷeybʰ- | ||
Ablative | |||
Locative |
Declension of Demonstrative Pronouns: [39]
*is "this, that"
Singular | Masculine | Neuter | Feminine |
---|---|---|---|
Nominative | *is < PIE *ís | *id < PIE *íd | *ejā < PIE *íh₂ |
Accusative | *im < *ím | *ejām < *íh₂m | |
Genitive | *ejjos < *ésyo | ||
Dative | *ejjei, *esmoi < *ésyeh₂ey, *ésmey | ||
Ablative | *ejōd < *ésmod | *ejād < *ésyo | |
Locative | ? < *ésmi | ? < *ésmi | ? |
Plural | Masculine | Neuter | Feminine |
Nominative | *ejōs, *ejoi < *éyes | *ejā < *íh₂ | *ejās < *íh₂es |
Accusative | *ejons < *íns | *ejans < *íh₂ms | |
Genitive | *ejozom < *éysom | *ejazom < *éysoHom | |
Dative | *ejois < *éymos? | *ejais < *íh₂mos? | |
Ablative | |||
Locative | ? < *éysu | ? < *éysu | ? < *íh₂su |
Number | PIt | PIE |
---|---|---|
One (1) [I] | *oinos | *h₁óynos |
Two (2) [II] | *duō | *dwóh₁ |
Three (3) [III] | *trejes > *trēs | *tréyes |
Four (4) [IV] | *kʷettwōr | *kʷetwṓr (gen. plur.) < *kʷetwóres |
Five (5) [V] | *kʷenkʷe | *pénkʷe |
Six (6) [VI] | *seks | *swéḱs |
Seven (7) [VII] | *septem | *septḿ̥ |
Eight (8) [VIII] | *oktō | *oḱtṓw |
Nine (9) [IX] | *nowem | *h₁néwn̥ |
Ten (10) [X] | *dekem | *déḱm̥t |
From Proto-Indo-European, the Proto-Italic present aspect changed in a couple of ways. Firstly, a new past indicative suffix of *-β- was created. This likely occurred due to the elision of word-final *i within the Indo-European primary verb endings (E.g. PIE Present Indicative *h₁ésti > PIt *est, but also PIE Past Indicative *h₁ést). Secondly, the desiderative suffix of *-s-/-so- became the future suffix in Proto-Italic. The subjunctive of this desiderative-future, with a suffix of both -s- and a lengthening of the following vowel, was used to represent a potentialis and irrealis mood. Finally, while the subjunctive and the optative of PIE were still in principle different moods, the moods became merged in Post-PIt developments (E.g. PIt subjunctive *esed vs optative *siēd which became Latin present subjunctive sit); this can be already seen in the Proto-Italic phase, where the subjunctive mood began to take secondary endings as opposed to the primary endings they exhibited in PIE (c.f. the Sabellian reflex of the PIt 3rd person singular imperfect subjunctive being -d and not *-t).
The PIE dual person was also lost within PIt verbs just as it was in PIt nouns.
This conjugation pattern was derived from the PIE suffix *-eh₂-yé-ti, and formed primarily denominative verbs (I.e. deriving from a noun or an adjective).
Example Conjugation: *dōnā- (to give) [40]
1st. Sing. | 2nd. Sing. | 3rd. Sing. | 1st. Plur. | 2nd. Plur. | 3rd. Plur. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Present Active Indicative | *dōnāō | *dōnās | *dōnāt | *dōnāmos | *dōnātes | *dōnānt |
Present Passive Indicative | *dōnāor | *dōnāzo | *dōnātor | *dōnāmor | *dōnāmenai | *dōnāntor |
Past Active Indicative | *dōnāβam | *dōnāβas | *dōnāβad | *dōnāβamos | *dōnāβates | *dōnāβand |
Past Passive Indicative | *dōnāβar | *dōnāβazo | *dōnāβator | *dōnāβamor | *dōnāβamenai | *dōnāβantor |
Future Active Indicative | *dōnāsō | *dōnāses | *dōnāst | *dōnāsomos | *dōnāstes | *dōnāsont |
Future Passive Indicative | *dōnāsor | *dōnāsezo | *dōnāstor | *dōnāsomor | *dōnāsemenai | *dōnāsontor |
Present Active Subjunctive | *dōnāōm | *dōnāēs | *dōnāēd | *dōnāōmos | *dōnāētes | *dōnāōnd |
Present Passive Subjunctive | *dōnāōr | *dōnāēzo | *dōnāētor | *dōnāōmor | *dōnāēmenai | *dōnāōntor |
Past Active Subjunctive | *dōnāsōm | *dōnāsēs | *dōnāsēd | *dōnāsōmos | *dōnāsētes | *dōnāsōnd |
Past Passive Subjunctive | *dōnāsōr | *dōnāsēzo | *dōnāsētor | *dōnāsōmor | *dōnāsēmenai | *dōnāsōntor |
Active Optative | *dōnāojam | *dōnāojas | *dōnāojad | *dōnāojamos | *dōnāojates | *dōnāojand |
Passive Optative | *dōnāojar | *dōnāojazo | *dōnāojator | *dōnāojamor | *dōnāojamenai | *dōnāojantor |
Present Active Imperative | *dōnā | *dōnāte | ||||
Passive Active Imperative | *dōnāzo | |||||
Future Active Imperative | *dōnātōd |
Participles | Present | Past |
---|---|---|
Tense | *dōnānts | *dōnātos |
Verbal Nouns | tu-derivative | s-derivative |
Type | *dōnātum | *dōnāzi |
This conjugation pattern was derived from PIE *-éyeti, and formed causative verbs (I.e. expressing a cause) from "basic" 3rd conjugation verbs.
Example Conjugation: *mone- (to warn) [41]
1st. Sing. | 2nd. Sing. | 3rd. Sing. | 1st. Plur. | 2nd. Plur. | 3rd. Plur. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Present Active Indicative | *moneō | *monēs | *monēt | *monēmos | *monētes | *moneont |
Present Passive Indicative | *moneor | *monēzo | *monētor | *monēmor | *monēmenai | *moneontor |
Past Active Indicative | *monēβam | *monēβas | *monēβad | *monēβamos | *monēβates | *monēβand |
Past Passive Indicative | *monēβar | *monēβazo | *monēβator | *monēβamor | *monēβamenai | *monēβantor |
Future Active Indicative | *monēsō | *monēses | *monēst | *monēsomos | *monēstes | *monēsont |
Future Passive Indicative | *monēsor | *monēsezo | *monēstor | *monēsomor | *monēsemenai | *monēsontor |
Present Active Subjunctive | *moneōm | *moneēs | *moneēd | *moneōmos | *moneētes | *moneōnd |
Present Passive Subjunctive | *moneōr | *moneēzo | *moneētor | *moneōmor | *moneēmenai | *moneōntor |
Past Active Subjunctive | *monesōm | *monesе̄s | *monesе̄d | *monesōmos | *monesе̄tes | *monesōnd |
Past Passive Subjunctive | *monesōr | *monesе̄zo | *monesе̄tor | *monesōmor | *monesе̄menai | *monesōntor |
Active Optative | *moneojam | *moneojas | *moneojad | *moneojamos | *moneojates | *moneojand |
Passive Optative | *moneojar | *moneojazo | *moneojator | *moneojamor | *moneojamenai | *moneojantor |
Present Active Imperative | *monē | *monēte | ||||
Passive Active Imperative | *monēzo | |||||
Future Active Imperative | *monētōd |
Participles | Present | Past |
---|---|---|
Tense | *monēnts | *monetos |
Verbal Nouns | tu-derivative | s-derivative |
Type | *monetum | *monēzi |
This conjugation pattern was derived from PIE *-éh₁ti (or the extended form *-eh₁yéti), and formed stative verbs (I.e. indicating a state of being).
Example Conjugation: *walē- (to be strong) [42]
1st. Sing. | 2nd. Sing. | 3rd. Sing. | 1st. Plur. | 2nd. Plur. | 3rd. Plur. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Present Active Indicative | *walēō | *walēs | *walēt | *walēmos | *walētes | *walēnt |
Present Passive Indicative | *walēor | *walēzo | *walētor | *walēmor | *walēmenai | *walēntor |
Past Active Indicative | *walēβam | *walēβas | *walēβad | *walēβamos | *walēβates | *walēβand |
Past Passive Indicative | *walēβar | *walēβazo | *walēβator | *walēβamor | *walēβamenai | *walēβantor |
Future Active Indicative | *walēsō | *walēses | *walēst | *walēsomos | *walēstes | *walēsont |
Future Passive Indicative | *walēsor | *walēsezo | *walēstor | *walēsomor | *walēsemenai | *walēsontor |
Present Active Subjunctive | *walēōm | *walēēs | *walēēd | *walēōmos | *walēētes | *walēōnd |
Present Passive Subjunctive | *walēōr | *walēēzo | *walēētor | *walēōmor | *walēēmenai | *walēōntor |
Past Active Subjunctive | *walēsōm | *walēsе̄s | *walēsе̄d | *walēsōmos | *walēsе̄tes | *walēsōnd |
Past Passive Subjunctive | *walēsōr | *walēsе̄zo | *walēsе̄tor | *walēsōmor | *walēsе̄menai | *walēsōntor |
Active Optative | *walēojam | *walēojas | *walēojad | *walēojamos | *walēojates | *walēojand |
Passive Optative | *walēojar | *walēojazo | *walēojator | *walēojamor | *walēojamenai | *walēojantor |
Present Active Imperative | *walē | *walēte | ||||
Passive Active Imperative | *walēzo | |||||
Future Active Imperative | *walētōd |
Participles | Present | Past |
---|---|---|
Tense | *walēnts | *walatos |
Verbal Nouns | tu-derivative | s-derivative |
Type | *walatum | *walēzi |
The bulk of Proto-Italic verbs were third-conjugation verbs, which were derived from Proto-Indo-European root thematic verbs. However, some are derived from other PIE verb classes, such as *linkʷō (PIE nasal-infix verbs) and *dikskō (PIE *sḱe-suffix verbs).
Example Conjugation: *ed-e/o- (to eat) [43]
1st. Sing. | 2nd. Sing. | 3rd. Sing. | 1st. Plur. | 2nd. Plur. | 3rd. Plur. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Present Active Indicative | *edō | *edes | *edet | *edomos | *edetes | *edont |
Present Passive Indicative | *edor | *edezo | *edetor | *edomor | *edemenai | *edontor |
Past Active Indicative | *edoβam | *edoβas | *edoβad | *edoβamos | *edoβates | *edoβand |
Past Passive Indicative | *edoβar | *edoβazo | *edoβator | *edoβamor | *edoβamenai | *edoβantor |
Future Active Indicative | *edesō | *edeses | *edest | *edesomos | *edestes | *edesont |
Future Passive Indicative | *edesor | *edesezo | *edestor | *edesomor | *edesemenai | *edesontor |
Present Active Subjunctive | *edōm | *edе̄s | *edе̄d | *edōmos | *edе̄tes | *edōnd |
Present Passive Subjunctive | *edōr | *edе̄zo | *edе̄tor | *edōmor | *edе̄menai | *edōntor |
Past Active Subjunctive | *edesōm | *edesе̄s | *edesе̄d | *edesōmos | *edesе̄tes | *edesōnd |
Past Passive Subjunctive | *edesōr | *edesе̄zo | *edesе̄tor | *edesōmor | *edesе̄menai | *edesōntor |
Active Optative | *edojam | *edojas | *edojad | *edojamos | *edojates | *edojand |
Passive Optative | *edojar | *edojazo | *edojator | *edojamor | *edojamenai | *edojantor |
Present Active Imperative | *ede | *edete | ||||
Passive Active Imperative | *edezo | |||||
Future Active Imperative | *edetōd |
Participles | Present | Past |
---|---|---|
Tense | *edents | *essos |
Verbal Nouns | tu-derivative | s-derivative |
Type | *essum | *edezi |
This conjugation was derived from PIE *ye-suffix verbs, and went on to form most of Latin 3rd conjugation io-variant verbs as well as some 4th conjugation verbs.
Example Conjugation: *gʷen-jo/je- (to come), [44] from earlier *gʷəmjō
1st. Sing. | 2nd. Sing. | 3rd. Sing. | 1st. Plur. | 2nd. Plur. | 3rd. Plur. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Present Active Indicative | *gʷenjō | *gʷenjes | *gʷenjet | *gʷenjomos | *gʷenjetes | *gʷenjont |
Present Passive Indicative | *gʷenjor | *gʷenjezo | *gʷenjetor | *gʷenjomor | *gʷenjemenai | *gʷenjontor |
Past Active Indicative | *gʷenjoβam | *gʷenjoβas | *gʷenjoβad | *gʷenjoβamos | *gʷenjoβates | *gʷenjoβand |
Past Passive Indicative | *gʷenjoβar | *gʷenjoβazo | *gʷenjoβator | *gʷenjoβamor | *gʷenjoβamenai | *gʷenjoβantor |
Future Active Indicative | *gʷenjesō | *gʷenjeses | *gʷenjest | *gʷenjesomos | *gʷenjestes | *gʷenjesont |
Future Passive Indicative | *gʷenjesor | *gʷenjesezo | *gʷenjestor | *gʷenjesomor | *gʷenjesemenai | *gʷenjesontor |
Present Active Subjunctive | *gʷenjōm | *gʷenjе̄s | *gʷenjе̄d | *gʷenjōmos | *gʷenjе̄tes | *gʷenjōnd |
Present Passive Subjunctive | *gʷenjōr | *gʷenjе̄zo | *gʷenjе̄tor | *gʷenjōmor | *gʷenjе̄menai | *gʷenjōntor |
Past Active Subjunctive | *gʷenjesōm | *gʷenjesе̄s | *gʷenjesе̄d | *gʷenjesōmos | *gʷenjesе̄tes | *gʷenjesōnd |
Past Passive Subjunctive | *gʷenjesōr | *gʷenjesе̄zo | *gʷenjesе̄tor | *gʷenjesōmor | *gʷenjesе̄menai | *gʷenjesōntor |
Active Optative | *gʷenjojam | *gʷenjojas | *gʷenjojad | *gʷenjojamos | *gʷenjojates | *gʷenjojand |
Passive Optative | *gʷenjojar | *gʷenjojazo | *gʷenjojator | *gʷenjojamor | *gʷenjojamenai | *gʷenjojantor |
Present Active Imperative | *gʷenje | *gʷenjete | ||||
Passive Active Imperative | *gʷenjezo | |||||
Future Active Imperative | *gʷenjetōd |
Participles | Present | Past |
---|---|---|
Tense | *gʷenjents | *gʷentos |
Verbal Nouns | tu-derivative | s-derivative |
Type | *gʷentum | *gʷenjezi |
Only a handful of verbs remained within this conjugation paradigm, derived from the original PIE Root Athematic verbs.
Example Conjugation: *ezom (copula, to be) [45] [46]
1st. Sing. | 2nd. Sing. | 3rd. Sing. | 1st. Plur. | 2nd. Plur. | 3rd. Plur. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Present Active Indicative | *ezom | *es | *est | *(e)somos | *(e)stes | *sent |
Past Active Indicative | *fuβam | *fuβas | *fuβad | *fuβamos | *fuβates | *fuβand |
Future Active Indicative | *fuzom | *fus | *fust | *fuzomos | *fustes | *fuzent |
Present Active Subjunctive | *ezom | *ezes | *ezed | *ezomos | *ezetes | *ezond |
Past Active Subjunctive | *fuzom, *essom | *fuzes, *esses | *fuzed, *essed | *fuzomos, *essomos | *fuzetes, *essetes | *fuzond, *essond |
Active Optative | *siēm | *siēs | *siēd | *sīmos | *sītes | *sīnd |
Present Active Imperative | *es | *este | ||||
Future Active Imperative | *estōd |
Participles | Present | Past |
---|---|---|
Tense | *sēnts | |
Verbal Nouns | tu-derivative | s-derivative |
Type | *essi |
In addition to these conjugations, Proto-Italic also has some deponent verbs, such as *ōdai (Perfect-Present), as well as *gnāskōr (Passive-Active).
Pronoun | Verb (present) |
---|---|
I | *portāō < PIE *pr̥teh₂yóh₂ |
You | *portās < *pr̥teh₂yési |
He, she, it | *portāt < *pr̥teh₂yéti |
We | *portāmos < *pr̥teh₂yómos |
You (all) | *portāte < *pr̥teh₂yéte |
They | *portānt < *pr̥teh₂yónti |
Pronoun | Verb (present) |
---|---|
I | *moneō < PIE *monéyoh₂ |
You | *monēs < *monéyesi |
He, she, it | *monēt < *monéyeti |
We | *monēmos < *monéyomos |
You | *monēte < *monéyete |
They | *monēont < *monéyonti |
Pronoun | Verb (present) |
---|---|
I | *agō < PIE *h₂éǵoh₂ |
You | *ages < *h₂éǵesi |
He, she, it | *aget < *h₂éǵeti |
We | *agomos < *h₂éǵomos |
You (all) | *agete < *h₂éǵete |
They | *agont < *h₂éǵonti |
Pronoun | Verb (present) |
---|---|
I | *gʷəmjō < PIE *gʷm̥yóh₂ |
You | *gʷəmjes < *gʷm̥yési |
He, she, it | *gʷəmjet < *gʷm̥yéti |
We | *gʷəmjomos *gʷm̥yomos |
You (all) | *gʷəmjete < *gʷm̥yéte |
They | *gʷəmjont < *gʷm̥yónti |
Pronoun | Verb (present) |
---|---|
I | *ezom < PIE *h₁ésmi |
You | *es < *h₁ési |
He, she, it | *est < *h₁ésti |
We | *(e)somos < *h₁smós |
You (all) | *(e)stes < *h₁sté |
They | *sent < *h₁sénti |
According to Rix, if a verb stem is present in both the Latino-Faliscan and Osco-Umbrian (Sabellian) branches, the present stem is identical in 90% of cases, but the perfect in only 50% of cases. This is likely because the original PIE aorist merged with the perfective aspect after the Proto-Italic period. [46] Thus, the discrepancy in the similarities of present versus perfect stems in the two groupings of the Italic clade is likely attributed to different preservations in each group. The new common perfect stem in Latino-Faliscan derives mostly from the PIE perfective, while the perfect stem in Osco-Umbrian derives mostly from the PIE aorist.
In the Proto-Italic period, the root aorist of PIE was no longer productive. However, other PIE perfect and aorist stems continued to be productive, such as the reduplicated perfect and lengthened-vowel perfect stems, as well as the sigmatic aorist stem (found in Latin dīcō, dīxī).
Sometimes, multiple perfective forms for each stem are attested. For example, De Vaan gives the forms *fēk-, *fak- for the aorist stem of *fakiō, and the reduplicated perfect form <FHEFHAKED> is also attested on the Praeneste fibula in Old Latin.
In addition, there were some new innovations within the perfective aspect, with the -v- perfect (in Latin amō, amāvī) and the -u- perfect (moneō, monuī) being later innovations, for example.[ citation needed ]
The aorist in Proto-Italic is characterized by the PIE secondary endings connected to the aorist stem by the appropriate thematic vowel. These endings are best attested in Sabellic, where aorist endings generally ousted the perfect ones; Latin instead generalized the perfect endings to its aorist-derived perfects. [47]
The following stem formations for the aorist are known:
Person and number | Endings | Root aorist *fēk-/*fak- "did, made" | s-aorist *deiks- "said" |
---|---|---|---|
1st Sing. | *-om | *fēkom | *deiksom |
2nd Sing. | *-es | *fēkes | *deikses |
3rd Sing. | *-ed | *fēked | *deiksed |
1st Plur. | ? | ? | ? |
2nd Plur. | ? | ? | ? |
3rd Plur. | *-ond | *fakond | *deiksond |
The other main type of perfective formation in Italic was the perfect, which was derived from the Proto-Indo-European stative and had its own set of endings.
Perfect stems are created by a reduplication process where a copy syllable consisting of the first consonant of the verb root followed by e is prefixed to the root. In Italic, Vine believes that the root either is in the zero grade or has the same vowel as the present stem, but De Vaan identified at least two perfects with o-grade in the root syllable. Latin and Sabellic also both attest a tendency in which if a root has a semivowel in the middle, this semivowel replaces e in the copy syllable. If a verb root begins in *s followed by a stop consonant, both consonants appear in the copy syllable and the root syllable loses the *s.
Root | Copy syllable | Root syllable | Perfect stem | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
*deh₃- "to give" | *de- | *d- | *ded- | Widely attested across Italic. Zero-grade root *-dh₃- resolves as non-syllabic when preceding a vowel. |
*perh₃- "to bring forth" | *pe- | *par- | *pepar- | Reduplication with *e in the copy syllable. Vine claims that the *a in the root syllable is taken from the present stem *parj-; [48] but this is unnecessary, as zero-grade *-prh₃- would yield *-par- anyhow. [49] |
*pewǵ- "to prick" | *pu- | *pug- | *pupug- | Semivowel instead of *e in the copy syllable. |
*dʰeyǵʰ- "to form" | *θi- | *θiɣ- | *θiθiɣ- | |
*telh₂- "to bear" | *te- | *tol- | *tetol- | Reduplication with *e in the copy syllable, but oddly, o-grade in the root syllable. |
*deḱ- "to take (in)" | *de- | *dok- | *dedok- | Another perfect with o-grade in the root syllable. Corresponding Latin didicī has the copy syllable vowel replaced by i by analogy with present discō "I learn". [50] |
The perfect endings in Italic, which only survive in the Latino-Faliscan languages, are derived from the original PIE stative endings, but with an extra -i added after most of them. [51]
An additional suffix -is- of difficult-to-trace origin was added in the evolution of Latin to the 2nd-person endings.
Perfect | Endings | Latin endings |
---|---|---|
1st Sing. | *-ai | -ī |
2nd Sing. | *-tai | -istī [a] |
3rd Sing. | *-ei | -īt [b] |
1st Plur. | ? | -imus [c] |
2nd Plur. | *-e | -istis [a] [c] |
3rd Plur. | *-ēri | -ēre [d] |
Further changes occurred during the evolution of individual Italic languages. This section gives an overview of the most notable changes. For complete lists, see History of Latin and other articles relating to the individual languages.
PItal | Pre-O-U | Oscan | Umbrian | Pre-Latin | Latin |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
*-ns | *-ns | -ss | -f | *-ns | -s |
*-nts | *-nts | -ns | |||
*-nt | *-nts | -ns | — |
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