Word-initial rhotics from Latin to Sardinian

This chapter focuses on the syllabic status of word-initial rothics in Sardinian, with emphasis on the changes undergone by word-initial rhotics from Latin to Medieval and Modern Sardinian. In some Southern Sardinian varieties, rhotics display a complex pattern. Those originated from Latin R- appear geminated and display an [a]-prosthesis, e.g., Lat. RANA > [arˈrana] ‘frog’. On the other hand, word-initial rhotics from loanwords are well tolerated in the general case, but in specific structural conditions, for example, if they are preceded by a final coda, a different kind of prosthesis emerges compared to the past: in this case, the inserted vowel is [i], e.g., /is ristorantis/ → [izi rristoˈrantis] ‘the restaurants. In this case, one can observe the gemination of the rhotic. In this chapter we aim to define the structural reasons for gemination and the further development of the two types of prosthesis. The main purpose will be to understand why rhotic gemination is related to prosthesis. To this end, we will review medieval documents looking for clues as to whether [a]-prosthesis, attested since the Middle Ages and now lexicalized, arose under structural conditions similar to those determining [i]-prosthesis in loanwords today.