Joret line
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The Joret line or ligne Joret is an isogloss used in the linguistics of the Oïl languages. The line was first identified by Charles Joret and published in 1883. It distinguishes dialects of Oïl languages to the north of the isogloss that have preserved /k/ and /g/ before /a/ (from Latin) and dialects to the south in which /k/ before /a/ became /ʃ/, and /g/ before /a/ became /dʒ/.
To the north of the line lie the Picard language and some dialects of the Norman language. To the south lie other Oïl dialects including southern Norman and French. The area north of the ligne Joret is sometimes characterised as the Normano-Picard domain.
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[edit] Geographical description
The Joret line extends from the Channel Islands (including Jèrriais, Guernésiais and Sarkese) and across the continent from Granville to the Belgian border.
It passes through Normandy north of Granville and Villedieu-les-Poêles and divides the département of Manche in two linguistically, separates the Calvados and the Orne départments along with the Eure département.
In Picardy, the line runs with the Amiénois and Thiérache.
[edit] Significant examples
Latin cattu (cat) gave rise to /ka/ cat north of the line and /ʃa/ chat to the south.
Latin gamba (leg) gave rise to /gãb/ gambe north of the line and /ʒãb/ jambe to the south.
Latin vacca (cow) gave rise to /vak/ vaque north of the line and /vaʃ/ vache to the south.
The effects of the isogloss can also be seen in toponyms in Normandy and Picardy: for example, Cambrai, Camembert, Campigny, Caply, Castel, Guernsey.
[edit] See also
- Campaniacum: for the difference in its commune names and names originating from Latin, a remark on Eure and one other name known as Champigny-la-Futelaye.
[edit] References
- La Normandie dialectale Lepelley, Caen 1999 ISBN 2-84133-076-1
