Spanish Velar-insertion and Analogy - A Usage-based Diachronic Analysis

Aug 21, 2026

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The theory of Analogical and Exemplar Modeling (AEM) revisits how analogy is formalized and how it may enter linguistic theory. Founded on usage and exemplar-based modeling, AEM integrates principles of analogical modeling, including frequency effects and random selection, while emphasizing the speaker’s central, immanent role in language. Analogical organization is treated as a mechanism that links input to stored exemplars via salient similarities, potentially driving language change. The dissertation applies AEM to Spanish velar insertion and evaluates how phonological, morphological, lexical, and paradigmatic variables shape diachronic development.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages315

Reading Time13 h 14 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Theoretical framework: AEM and analogy

Case study: Spanish velar-insertion

Diachronic modeling requirements

Limits of prior analyses

Additional issues: frequency, paradigmatic structure, predictability

Spanish Velar-insertion and Analogy: A Usage-based Diachronic Analysis DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Steven Richard Fondow, B.A, M.A Graduate Program in Spanish and Portuguese The Ohio State University 2010 Dissertation Committee: Dr. Dieter Wanner, Advisor Dr. Brian Joseph Dr. Terrell Morgan Dr. Wayne Redenbarger Copyright by Steven Richard Fondow 2010 Abstract The theory of Analogical and Exemplar Modeling (AEM) suggests renewed discussion of the formalization of analogy and its possible incorporation in linguistic theory. AEM is a usage-based model founded upon Exemplar Modeling (Bybee 2007, Pierrehumbert 2001) that utilizes several principles of the Analogical Modeling of Language (Skousen 1992, 1995, 2002, Wanner 2005, 2006a), including the‘homogeneous supracontext’ of the Analogical Model (AM), frequency effects and‘random-selection’, while also highlighting the speaker’s central and ‘immanent’ role in language (Wanner 2006a, 2006b) . Within AEM, analogy is considered a cognitive means of organizing linguistic information. The relationship between input and stored exemplars is established according to potentially any and all salient similarities, linguistic or otherwise. At the same time, this conceptualization of analogy may result in language change as a result of such similarities or variables, as they may be used in the formation of an AM for the input. Crucially, the inflectional paradigm is argued to be a possible variable since it is a higher-order unit of linguistic structure within AEM. This investigation analyzes the analogical process of Spanish velar-insertion according to AEM. Velar-insertion involves the presence of a non-etymological voiced velar obstruent /g/ appears in the first person singular present indicative and all forms of the present subjunctive, e.g. 1s PRS IND pongo, 1s PRS SBJ ponga, cntr. 2s PRS IND pones. It affects a dynamic, yet heavily restricted lexical subclass of second and third conjugation verbs characterized by synchronic variation and diachronic change. The diachronic development of the velar-insert class requires a sufficient level of synchronic detail so as to properly define the AM and identify changes in its multiple phonological, morphological, lexical and paradigmatic variables. Previous analyses of velar-insertion, in Spanish and other Romance languages, are limited and/or ambiguous because they rely on the traditional notions of proportional analogy and leveling. Thus, several crucial details of the analogical process are assumed or overlooked in order to more broadly describe the diachronic extension of the velar-insert across a series of verbs having different stem-final segments. Relatedly, the imprecise defining of the AM has led to numerous hypotheses concerning the original model for velar-insertion including leader verbs like decir, 1s PRS IND digo, conocer, 1s PRS IND conozco or tañer, OSp. 1s PRS IND tango. Several other theoretical issues are also addressed as they relate to AEM and velar-insertion. The role of frequency in the salience and resting activation levels of exemplars explains the traditional ‘resistance’ to regular sound change in high frequency, irregular verbs. Also, the paradigmatic structure that emerges from the allomorphic distribution of the velar is argued to be a crucial variable in the diachronic development of the velar-insert class. Finally, the preceding points in conjunction with the changes affecting the composition of the AM lend themselves to a very weak predictive power in identifying potential targets for continued extension of the velar, some of which are attested dialectally or are accepted as standard variants in Modern Spanish, as well as Catalan and Italian. For Meghan. iv Acknowledgements The following examination of Spanish velar-insertion is the culm

FAQs

What is AEM and how does it conceptualize analogy in language?

Analogical and Exemplar Modeling (AEM) treats analogy as a cognitive way to organize linguistic information. It links input to stored exemplars through salient similarities and can thereby contribute to language change.

What is Spanish velar-insertion according to the dissertation?

Velar-insertion is the appearance of a non-etymological voiced velar obstruent /g/ in first-person singular present indicative and in all present subjunctive forms. It affects a restricted lexical subclass of certain second- and third-conjugation verbs.

Why do the dissertation’s authors argue prior analyses of velar-insertion are limited?

Prior work is described as limited and/or ambiguous because it relies on traditional proportional analogy and leveling notions. This leads to crucial details being assumed or overlooked, including the structure of the analogical model and how it supports diachronic extension.

Aug 21, 2026

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