Contextual Neutralisation of Voicing in Maltese Obstruents: A Historical Perspective

This chapter explores the historical evolution of contextual voicing neutralization in Maltese obstruents, focusing on regressive voicing assimilation and word-final devoicing. By comparing Modern Maltese with its Arabic ancestor, evidence shows sporadic instances of spontaneous voicing and devoicing in earlier stages, transitioning to systematic phonological rules by the late 18th century. An analysis of texts, lexicons, and notarial records from the 15th to 18th centuries reveals that while early Maltese exhibited voiced obstruents and mixed clusters, regressive assimilation and word-final devoicing gradually became pervasive. Both rules, first attested in the 16th century, spread via lexical diffusion, affecting Semitic roots and Romance loanwords alike.

The study underscores the typological shift from unrestricted obstruent voicing contrasts in Arabic to the Maltese system characterized by regressive assimilation and word-final devoicing. This development challenges claims of direct inheritance from Sicilian Arabic, suggesting instead a Maltese-specific innovation. Despite some exceptions, such as non-integrated borrowings, these phonological rules persist synchronically in Modern Maltese.

The findings contribute to understanding the diachronic phonology of Maltese, highlighting its divergence from other Arabic varieties and its typological realignment. The study also emphasizes the importance of historical linguistic evidence in reconstructing phonological change and its implications for the interaction of Semitic and Romance components in Maltese.