Stem alternation changes in Judeo-Spanish verbs

Abstract

This paper explores diachronic changes in Judeo-Spanish verb stem alternation patterns compared to Old Spanish. Relying on nearly 9000 verbal tokens from the CoDiaJE corpus, we find out that, while the ones known as L-pattern and PYTA have remained remarkably stable over the last 500 years, the N-pattern has undergone much more change. N-patterns, and their morphological correlate diphthongization, have been disappearing fast in some varieties (e.g. Istanbul) but not in others (Salonika), which might relate to the intensity and type of language contact in different locations. We also explore and discuss the predictive role of factors like conjugation membership and frequency to explain which verbs undergo levelling and which ones retain stem alternation.