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Article published In: Diachrony of Tone
Edited by Sandra Auderset, Rikker Dockum and Ryan Gehrmann
[Diachronica 42:3/4] 2025
► pp. 428–450

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Tonogenesis and tone renewal in Baltic and Slavic languages

ORCiD logo with link | Leiden University
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Available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 license.

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Open Access publication of this article was funded through a Transformative Agreement with Leiden University.

Published online: 11 September 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/dia.24031.pro
Abstract
This article discusses the rise of new tones in Baltic and Slavic languages. It draws attention to the underlying mechanisms in the rise of these new tones and adduces typological parallels for some of the sound changes involved. It is argued that two processes played a crucial role in tonogenesis in Baltic and Slavic: stress retraction and reanalysis of an earlier phonation contrast as a tonal contrast. Tone renewal as a result of stress retractions in a number of South Slavic dialects is argued to have resulted from language contact.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Tone in Baltic and Slavic
  • 3.The origins of tone in Baltic and Slavic
  • 4.A Proto-Balto-Slavic phonation contrast
  • 5.Phonation to tone: Baltic
  • 6.Phonation to tone: Slavic and the shortening of laryngealized vowels
  • 7.Possible origins of laryngealization in Baltic and Slavic
  • 8.Stress retractions and tonogenesis in Slavic and Baltic
  • 9.Tone renewal
  • 10.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
References (70)
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