Comparative Romance Grammar: Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French
A comprehensive analysis of the linguistic similarities and differences between the four major Romance languages, focusing on phonology, morphology, and syntax derived from Vulgar Latin.
Course Syllabus
Phonology and Orthographic Patterns
Foundational sounds and spelling rules that distinguish the four languages.
- 01Latin Roots and Vowel Shifts
Analyze how Latin long and short vowels evolved differently into the seven-vowel systems of Italian and Portuguese versus the diphthongization in Spanish and French.
- 02Consonant Development and Lenition
Explore the softening of intervocalic consonants (p, t, k to b, d, g) and the specific evolution of 'CL' and 'FL' clusters across the four languages.
- 03Nasalization and Sibilants
Contrast French and Portuguese nasal vowels with the clearer vowel sounds of Spanish and Italian, and examine the 's' voicing rules.
The Nominal System: Nouns and Adjectives
Structure of noun phrases and agreement patterns.
- 01Gender and Pluralization Strategies
Compare the 's' pluralization of Spanish, Portuguese, and French against the vocalic pluralization of Italian.
- 02Definite and Indefinite Articles
A study of article contraction (especially in Portuguese and Italian) and the usage of partitive articles in French and Italian.
- 03Adjective Placement and Agreement
Analyze the standard post-nominal position of adjectives and the specific exceptions found in French.
Verb Morphology: Present and Past
Core verb structures and the evolution of the Latin tense system.
- 01The Three Conjugation Classes
Mapping -AR/-ER/-IR verbs across the four languages and identifying common irregular outliers.
- 02The Perfective Aspect: Auxiliary Selection
Contrast the use of 'have' (haber/ter/avoir) vs 'be' (essere/être) in forming compound past tenses.
- 03Imperfect and Preterite Distinctions
How the four languages handle the distinction between completed and ongoing past actions.