TheMarcho-Magdeburgian dialect,[1]Old March and Magdeburg dialect[2] is anextinctSlavicLechitic dialect spoken bySlavic tribes living in theOld March and aroundMagdeburg.[2] Linguistically, the dialect was particularly related to theDrevani language used until the 18th century inWendland and belonged to theWest Lechitic dialects.[1]
Proto-Slavicnasal vowels were preserved -*ǫ gaveą̊, e.g.Bombeck,Dambeke <PS *Bǫbъkъ, *Dǫbъkъ, and *ę gave narrowę̇, e.g.Prinzlowe,Wenzlow <PS *Prędislavъ, *Vęťeslavъ.[3] There are also traces ofLechitic apophony nasals:Randowe <PS *Rędovo.[4]
Proto-Slavic*ě also yielded to Lechitic apophony – it gavea before the harddental consonants, e.g.Gnadau,Latzke <PS *Gnědovo, *Lěsъko, and in other positions it gavee, e.g.Belin,Pechowe <PS *Bělinъ, *Pěxovo.[5]
Proto-Slavic*e essentially gavee, although before the originally palatal consonants there was a tendency to narrow the pronunciation toė, e.g.Britzin,Popeliz <PS *Berzinъ, *Popelicě.[6]
The Proto-Slavic*i essentially givesi, e.g.Klinkov,Sydowe <PS *Klinъkovъ, *Židovo, but in the position beforel it is reduced toe, e.g.Melcowe <PS *Milъkovo.[7] Proto-Slavic*y is presented in a similar way, e.g.Dipkowe,Synowe <PS *Dypъkovo, *Synovo, and theyl group, likeil, is rendered byel, e.g.Kubelke,Motelicze <PS *Kobylъky, *Motylicě.[7]
The Proto-Slavic *a gavea, e.g.Cracowe,Gaddow <PS *Krakovo, *Gadovo, however, since the 10th century,a (including that formed from other Proto-Slavic sounds) has been labialized too, e.g.Boben,Dontze,Sodin <PS *Babinъ, *Donicě, *Sadinъ.[8] It developed differently only in the*ja- group, which gaveje-, e.g.jeggowe <PS *Jajьkovo.[9]
The Proto-Slavic*o has narrowed toȯ, as evidenced by the frequent spelling with ⟨u⟩, e.g.Drozdowe orDrusdowe <PS *Drozdovo.[10] However, the bifurcation of*o intoö/ü, characteristic of theDrevani area, is missing.[10] The anlaut*o- has been provided with a prostheticv-, e.g.Wustrewe,Wutzow <PS *Ostrovъ, *Osovъ, while in front ofpalatal consonants this group passed intovi-, as in Polabian, e.g.Wilnitz,Wiebelitz <PS *Voľьnica, *Oblica.[11]
The Proto-Slavic*u most likely did not change its pronunciation and is continued byu, e.g.Bukowe,Lubicz <PS *Bukovo, *Ľubičь.[12]
Yers in weak position disappeared,[13] while in the strong position*ь gavee, e.g.Zwinez <PS *Svinьcь, and *ъ gaveo, e.g.Zerkow <PS *Cŕ̥kъvь.[13] The separate development of the two yers is a feature that coincides with the Drevani andRani areas, and definitely distinguishes the Old March and Magdeburg dialects from thePolish andPomeranian areas, where both yers produce a vowel of the same color.
Spellings such asBukowe,Drozdowe attest to the reduction of the final vowel – similar processes also occurred in the Drevani and Rani areas.[14]
The Proto-Slavic*r̥ (*ъr) regularly gavear, and*ŕ̥ (*ьr) develops similarly before harddental consonants, e.g.Parchowe,Tarnewitz <PS *Pr̥xovo, *Tŕ̥novica, with thea becoming labialized over time, so that the group was thusor, e.g.Morditz,Storkow <PS *Mr̥dicě, *Str̥kovъ.[15]
The Proto-Slavic *l̥ and *ĺ̥ (*ъl and*ьl) similarly to the other West Lechitic dialects became mixed and gaveol, e.g.Dolchow,Kolpin <PS *Dĺ̥govъ, *Kl̥pinъ.[16]
The development of*TorT groups was inconsistent –TarT, e.g.Gardiss,Karwitz <PS *Gordъčь, *Korvicě, andTroT, e.g.Drogawiz,Potgrot <psł. *Dorgovicě, *Podъgordъ, competed with each other.[17] The TarT type became established much later than in the Drevani and Rani dialects.[17]
The*TerT group is almost uniquely given over byTreT orTriT, e.g.Brisen,Stresen <PS *Berzьno, *Strežьno.[18] The only exception seems to beDerwen <PS *Dervьno.[19]
The*TolT group generally yielded to ametathesis toTlåT, as in Drevani dialect, e.g.Clodene,Gladove <PS *Koldьno, *Goldovo,[20] cases of keepingTolT are rare, e.g.Coldiz,Golwicz <PS *Koldicě, *Golvicě.[19] No examples for*TelT group descendants.[21]
Anlaut*orT under circumflex intonation has passed intoroT (meanwhile in Drevani it becameråT), e.g.Rostocke <PS *Orz-tokъ.[22]
The spelling does not resolve whether the original palatal consonants were depalatalized before the front vowels, as in the Drevani and Rani dialects.[23]
Written monuments lack the distinction of the seriess,c,z fromš,č,ž, e.g.Plessow,Petzenow,Stressowe <PS *Plěševъ, *Pečenovъ, *Streševo, which most likely indicates themazuration of the Marcho-Magdeburgian dialect.[23]