Proto-Slavic “reduced” sounds and the vowels u and i in the Slovenian dialect of Valburga: some parallels

Abstract

The literature on Slavic jers is vast, and the history of change in views on these sounds could be a topic of a separate monographic study. In this article, we will try to shed light only on some controversial aspects of the theory of “reduced” sounds and present our own interpretation. Our view will be supported by material from the Slovenian Upper Carniolan dialect of the village of Valburga. While some parallels between the fates of Proto-Slavic “reduced” sounds and Slovenian u and i have already been noted in the literature, to date a detailed comparison has not been made.