The Accentuation of the Podravian Dialect of Valpovo by B. Klaić

Abstract

The article analyzes the accentual system of the Podravian dialect of Valpovo on the basis of Bratoljub Klaić’s description of the Bizovac dialect. The comparison of his description with that of other dialectologists leads to the conclusion that the differences between the various description of the prosodic system of the dialect are significant and that Klaić’s description is the most detailed and reliable. The second part of the article discusses the retraction of the ictus from the final syllable of the prosodic word onto the initial syllable, a feature that separates the Valpovo dialect from the other Slavonian dialects. Typologically similar retractions in other Croatian dialects, Russian and Lithuanian are discussed. The hypothesis that the accent retraction is due to Hungarian influence, which has been suggested by several linguists, is confirmed.

Keywords

• Old Štokavian Podravian dialect
• Valpovo dialect
• Klaić
• dialectology
• accentuation
• acute