Late Hick / Early Seneran

    Overview

    Late Hick (105-400 AI) represents the crucial transition period when Kalassarian influence began reshaping the Hick language into what would become Modern Seneran.

    Historical Context

    Pre-Contact Period (before 105 AI)

    • Established trade with Iutlandish seafarers
    • Metalworking vocabulary enters from Iutlandish
    • Maritime terminology shows heavy Iutlandish influence
    • Initial consonant clusters adopted from Iutlandish loans

    Early Contact Period (105-250 AI)

    1. Iutlandish Influence Peaks
      • Shipbuilding terminology standardizes
      • Iron-working vocabulary fully incorporated
      • Complex onset clusters become productive
      • Final consonant adaptations settle
    2. Initial Kalassarian Contact
      • Coastal trading posts established
      • Administrative vocabulary begins entering
      • Bilingual communities emerge
      • Writing system adopted from Kalassarian

    Late Contact Period (250-400 AI)

    1. Kalassarian Dominance Begins
      • Administrative language shifts
      • Urban terminology borrowed
      • Stress patterns in flux
      • New sound changes emerge
    2. Iutlandish Influence Wanes
      • Maritime terms fossilize
      • Metal-working terms standardize
      • No new Iutlandish borrowings
      • Existing loans fully adapted

    Cultural Context

    1. Technological Changes
      • Iron tools become common
      • New shipbuilding techniques
      • Urban development begins
      • Writing becomes widespread
    2. Social Changes
      • Merchant class emerges
      • Administrative roles develop
      • Traditional practices adapt
      • Maritime trade expands

    Language Structure

    Phonology

    Consonant Inventory

    MannerLabialDentalAlveolarPalatalVelarGlottal
    Stopsp bt dk g
    Fricativesf vθsh
    Nasalsmnŋ
    Liquidsl r
    Approximantswj

    Notes:

    • [ŋ] occurs only before velars
    • [v] mainly from Iutlandish loans
    • [θ] weakening except in sacred terms

    Vowel Inventory

    HeightFrontCentralBack
    Highi iːu uː
    Mide eːəo oː
    Lowæa aː

    Notes:

    • Length distinction weakening in unstressed syllables
    • [ə] emerging in unstressed positions
    • [æ] mainly in Iutlandish loans

    Diphthongs

    • /ai/ from Kalassarian /ae/
    • /au/ preserved in ritual terms
    • /ei/ from Iutlandish loans
    • /oi/ from Kalassarian borrowings

    Sound Changes

    Iutlandish-influenced Changes (inherited from Middle Hick)

    1. Initial Clusters

      • Added /sk-/, /st-/ from Iutlandish loans
        • *skip → skip "ship"
        • *stál → stal "steel"

    2. Final Consonants

      • Final /-f/ → /-v/ between vowels
        • *skif → skiv "small boat"
      • Final /-þ/ → /-d/ in borrowed terms
        • *smiþ → smed "smith"

    3. Cluster Adaptations

      • Iut. /-lf-/ → Hick /-lv-/
        • *wulf → wulv "wolf"
      • Iut. /-rn-/ preserved
        • *isarn → isarn "iron"

    4. Vowel Changes

      • Iut. /á/ → Hick /a/
        • *bát → bat "boat"
      • Iut. /é/ → Hick /e/
        • *fésk → fesk "fish"
      • Iut. /ei/ → Hick /e/
        • *reiþ → red "ride"
      • Iut. /au/ → Hick /o/
        • *hauk → hok "hawk"

    Early Changes (105-300 AI)

    1. Consonant Clusters

      • /θr/ → /r/ before /a/
      • /θr/ preserved in sacred terms
      • New clusters from Kalassarian: [st], [sp], [nt]

    2. Vowel Changes

      • /ae/ → /a/ in unstressed syllables
      • /i/ → /e/ in compounds
      • Unstressed vowel reduction begins

    Later Changes (300-400 AI)

    1. Kalassarian Influence
      • Borrowed stress patterns
      • New consonant clusters
      • Vowel quality shifts

    Vocabulary Development

    Preserved Hick Terms

    • Maritime vocabulary
    • Geographic features
    • Sacred/ritual terminology
    • Place names

    Kalassarian Borrowings

    • Administrative terms
    • Urban terminology
    • New technology terms
    • Formal registers

    Hybrid Forms

    portakel [por.ta.kel]
    "harbor sky" (lighthouse)
    Hybrid: Kal. porta + Hick kel
    silvawud [sil.va.wud]
    "deep forest"
    Hybrid: Kal. silva + Hick wud
    altator [al.ta.tor]
    "high peak"
    Hybrid: Kal. alta + Hick tor

    Iutlandish Maritime Borrowings

    Ship Types and Parts

    skip [skip]
    "large sailing vessel" (< Iut. *skip)
    skiv [skiv]
    "small fishing boat" (< Iut. *skif)
    knarr [knar]
    "merchant vessel" (< Iut. *knarr)
    stavn [stavn]
    "ship's prow" (< Iut. *stafn)
    kil [kil]
    "keel" (< Iut. *kil)

    Sailing Technology

    segl [segl]
    "sail" (< Iut. *segel)
    mast [mast]
    "mast" (< Iut. *mast)
    stir [stir]
    "rudder" (< Iut. *styr)
    ankr [ankr]
    "anchor" (< Iut. *ankar)

    Sea Creatures

    fesk [fesk]
    "deep-water fish" (< Iut. *fisk)
    hval [hval]
    "whale" (< Iut. *hval)
    sel [sel]
    "seal" (< Iut. *sel)
    krab [krab]
    "crab" (< Iut. *krabbe)
    laks [laks]
    "salmon" (< Iut. *laks)

    Hybrid Formations

    bramfesk [bram.fesk]
    "tidal fish" (Hick bram + Iut. fesk)
    selmal [sel.mal]
    "seal pool" (Iut. sel + Hick mal)
    hvalbram [hval.bram]
    "whale tide" (time when whales are seen)
    skiptor [skip.tor]
    "ship hill" (navigation landmark)

    Key Terms Development

    Native Terms

    1. innis-bél → Inespell

      • Unstressed vowel reduction: innis → ines
      • Consonant cluster simplification: -sb- → -sp-
      • Final vowel raising: -é- → -e-
      • Gemination: -l → -ll

    2. bram-aes → Brams

      • Vowel sequence simplification: -ae- → ∅
      • Final -s preserved as marker of water feature

    Kalassarian Borrowings

    1. Surrata → Surrey
      • Unstressed vowel syncope: -rata → -ry
      • Vowel quality shift: -y → -ey
      • Maintains initial stress pattern

    The Term "Hick"

    Derived from Kalassarian "hiccus" [hik.kus] meaning "local, native":

    • From administrative term "hiccus populus" (local people)
    • Compare: "rusticus" (rural), "civicus" (civic)
    • Simplified in military/administrative use to just "hiccus"
    • Further shortened in common speech to "hick"

    Northeastern Place Names

    Coastal Settlements

    Skelvik [skel.vik]
    "ship bay" (< Iut. *skip-vik)
    Modern Seneran: Skelwick
    Selholm [sel.holm]
    "seal island" (< Iut. *sel-holm)
    Modern Seneran: Selholm
    Havalbek [ha.val.bek]
    "whale stream" (< Iut. *hval-bekk)
    Modern Seneran: Havalbeck

    Inland Features

    Sterskog [ster.skog]
    "great forest" (< Iut. *stor-skog)
    Modern Seneran: Sterskey
    Langdal [laŋ.dal]
    "long valley" (< Iut. *lang-dal)
    Modern Seneran: Langdale
    Hegfell [heg.fel]
    "high mountain" (< Iut. *høg-fell)
    Modern Seneran: Hegfell

    Hybrid Forms

    Bramvik [bram.vik]
    "tide bay" (Hick bram + Iut. vik)
    Modern Seneran: Bramwick
    Torholm [tor.holm]
    "peak island" (Hick tor + Iut. holm)
    Modern Seneran: Torholm
    Malfjor [mal.fjor]
    "pool fjord" (Hick mal + Iut. fjord)
    Modern Seneran: Malford

    Common Elements in Northeastern Names

    • -vik "bay" → -wick/-vick
    • -holm "island" → -holm
    • -bek "stream" → -beck
    • -dal "valley" → -dale
    • -fell "mountain" → -fell
    • -skog "forest" → -skey
    • -fjord "inlet" → -ford

    See Also