Late Hick / Early Seneran
Overview
Section titled “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
Section titled “Historical Context”Pre-Contact Period (before 105 AI)
Section titled “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)
Section titled “Early Contact Period (105-250 AI)”- Iutlandish Influence Peaks
- Shipbuilding terminology standardizes
- Iron-working vocabulary fully incorporated
- Complex onset clusters become productive
- Final consonant adaptations settle
- 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)
Section titled “Late Contact Period (250-400 AI)”- Kalassarian Dominance Begins
- Administrative language shifts
- Urban terminology borrowed
- Stress patterns in flux
- New sound changes emerge
- Iutlandish Influence Wanes
- Maritime terms fossilize
- Metal-working terms standardize
- No new Iutlandish borrowings
- Existing loans fully adapted
Cultural Context
Section titled “Cultural Context”- Technological Changes
- Iron tools become common
- New shipbuilding techniques
- Urban development begins
- Writing becomes widespread
- Social Changes
- Merchant class emerges
- Administrative roles develop
- Traditional practices adapt
- Maritime trade expands
Language Structure
Section titled “Language Structure”Phonology
Section titled “Phonology”Consonant Inventory
Section titled “Consonant Inventory”| Manner | Labial | Dental | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Glottal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stops | p b | t d | k g | |||
| Fricatives | f v | θ | s | h | ||
| Nasals | m | n | ŋ | |||
| Liquids | l r | |||||
| Approximants | w | j |
Notes:
- [ŋ] occurs only before velars
- [v] mainly from Iutlandish loans
- [θ] weakening except in sacred terms
Vowel Inventory
Section titled “Vowel Inventory”| Height | Front | Central | Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | i iː | u uː | |
| Mid | e eː | ə | o oː |
| Low | æ | a aː |
Notes:
- Length distinction weakening in unstressed syllables
- [ə] emerging in unstressed positions
- [æ] mainly in Iutlandish loans
Diphthongs
Section titled “Diphthongs”- /ai/ from Kalassarian /ae/
- /au/ preserved in ritual terms
- /ei/ from Iutlandish loans
- /oi/ from Kalassarian borrowings
Sound Changes
Section titled “Sound Changes”Iutlandish-influenced Changes (inherited from Middle Hick)
Section titled “Iutlandish-influenced Changes (inherited from Middle Hick)”-
Initial Clusters
- Added /sk-/, /st-/ from Iutlandish loans
- *skip → skip “ship”
- *stál → stal “steel”
- Added /sk-/, /st-/ from Iutlandish loans
-
Final Consonants
- Final /-f/ → /-v/ between vowels
- *skif → skiv “small boat”
- Final /-þ/ → /-d/ in borrowed terms
- *smiþ → smed “smith”
- Final /-f/ → /-v/ between vowels
-
Cluster Adaptations
- Iut. /-lf-/ → Hick /-lv-/
- *wulf → wulv “wolf”
- Iut. /-rn-/ preserved
- *isarn → isarn “iron”
- Iut. /-lf-/ → Hick /-lv-/
-
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”
- Iut. /á/ → Hick /a/
Early Changes (105-300 AI)
Section titled “Early Changes (105-300 AI)”-
Consonant Clusters
- /θr/ → /r/ before /a/
- /θr/ preserved in sacred terms
- New clusters from Kalassarian: [st], [sp], [nt]
-
Vowel Changes
- /ae/ → /a/ in unstressed syllables
- /i/ → /e/ in compounds
- Unstressed vowel reduction begins
Later Changes (300-400 AI)
Section titled “Later Changes (300-400 AI)”- Kalassarian Influence
- Borrowed stress patterns
- New consonant clusters
- Vowel quality shifts
Vocabulary Development
Section titled “Vocabulary Development”Preserved Hick Terms
Section titled “Preserved Hick Terms”- Maritime vocabulary
- Geographic features
- Sacred/ritual terminology
- Place names
Kalassarian Borrowings
Section titled “Kalassarian Borrowings”- Administrative terms
- Urban terminology
- New technology terms
- Formal registers
Hybrid Forms
Section titled “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
Section titled “Iutlandish Maritime Borrowings”Ship Types and Parts
Section titled “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
Section titled “Sailing Technology”- segl [segl]
- “sail” (< Iut. *segel)
- mast [mast]
- “mast” (< Iut. *mast)
- stir [stir]
- “rudder” (< Iut. *styr)
- ankr [ankr]
- “anchor” (< Iut. *ankar)
Sea Creatures
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “Key Terms Development”Native Terms
Section titled “Native Terms”-
innis-bél → Inespell
- Unstressed vowel reduction: innis → ines
- Consonant cluster simplification: -sb- → -sp-
- Final vowel raising: -é- → -e-
- Gemination: -l → -ll
-
bram-aes → Brams
- Vowel sequence simplification: -ae- → ∅
- Final -s preserved as marker of water feature
Kalassarian Borrowings
Section titled “Kalassarian Borrowings”- Surrata → Surrey
- Unstressed vowel syncope: -rata → -ry
- Vowel quality shift: -y → -ey
- Maintains initial stress pattern
The Term “Hick”
Section titled “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
Section titled “Northeastern Place Names”Coastal Settlements
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “See Also”Agentive Marking Development
Section titled “Agentive Marking Development”Early Stage (105-250 AI)
Section titled “Early Stage (105-250 AI)”- Competition between native -ok and borrowed -er
- Initial complementary distribution emerges:
- -ok favored in traditional occupations
- -er appears in new trade/craft terms
Late Stage (250-400 AI)
Section titled “Late Stage (250-400 AI)”- Clear functional split develops:
- -ok specializes for established occupations:
- materok “professional boatman”
- smedok “master smith”
- wardok “professional guide”
- -er marks temporary or non-professional agents:
- mater “one who handles boats”
- smeder “one who smiths”
- warder “one who guides”
- -ok specializes for established occupations:
This systematization laid the groundwork for the modern Seneran distinction between occupational -ok and active participant -er.