Old Spanish vs. Proto-West Iberian

Attribute	Old Spanish	Proto-West Iberian
Time Period	9th to 15th centuries	4th to 7th centuries
Geographical Area	Iberian Peninsula	Iberian Peninsula
Phonological Features	Loss of unstressed vowels	Complex vowel system
Grammatical Features	Use of synthetic verb forms	Use of analytic verb forms
Lexicon	Influence from Arabic and Latin	Influence from Celtic and Latin

Phonological Features

Old Spanish and Proto-West Iberian are two distinct stages in the development of the Spanish language. One key difference between the two is their phonological features. Old Spanish retained many of the phonemes present in Latin, such as the distinction between /b/ and /v/. In contrast, Proto-West Iberian underwent significant phonological changes, including the merger of certain consonant clusters and the development of new vowel sounds.

• Old Spanish retained the Latin distinction between /b/ and /v
• Proto-West Iberian underwent significant phonological changes
• Proto-West Iberian developed new vowel sounds

Morphological Changes

Another important aspect to consider when comparing Old Spanish and Proto-West Iberian is their morphological changes. Old Spanish maintained a complex system of verb conjugations inherited from Latin, while Proto-West Iberian simplified these conjugations and developed new verb forms. Additionally, Old Spanish preserved many Latin noun declensions, whereas Proto-West Iberian reduced the number of declensions and introduced new grammatical structures.

• Old Spanish maintained a complex system of verb conjugations
• Proto-West Iberian simplified verb conjugations and developed new forms
• Old Spanish preserved many Latin noun declensions

Lexical Differences

Lexical differences between Old Spanish and Proto-West Iberian are also worth noting. Old Spanish borrowed vocabulary from Latin, Arabic, and other languages, resulting in a rich and diverse lexicon. In contrast, Proto-West Iberian developed its own unique vocabulary through internal processes of word formation and semantic change. This led to differences in the lexicons of the two stages of the language.

• Old Spanish borrowed vocabulary from Latin, Arabic, and other languages
• Proto-West Iberian developed its own unique vocabulary
• Differences in lexicons between the two stages of the language

Syntactic Structures

When comparing Old Spanish and Proto-West Iberian, it is important to consider their syntactic structures. Old Spanish maintained a relatively flexible word order inherited from Latin, with a tendency towards subject-verb-object (SVO) constructions. In contrast, Proto-West Iberian developed more fixed word orders and introduced new syntactic constructions, such as the use of prepositions instead of Latin's case system.

• Old Spanish had a flexible word order inherited from Latin
• Proto-West Iberian developed more fixed word orders
• Proto-West Iberian introduced new syntactic constructions

Regional Variations

Both Old Spanish and Proto-West Iberian exhibit regional variations in their linguistic features. Old Spanish was spoken in various regions of the Iberian Peninsula, leading to differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. Similarly, Proto-West Iberian had regional dialects that influenced the development of the language in different areas. These regional variations highlight the diversity and complexity of the linguistic landscape in the Iberian Peninsula.

• Old Spanish had regional variations in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar
• Proto-West Iberian had regional dialects that influenced language development
• Regional variations highlight the diversity of the linguistic landscape