Headedness and licensing constraints in the phonotactics of (Old) French

International audienceThis paper addresses the question of the evolution k → t and g → d from Latin to (Old) French. Briefly stated, k,g become t,d when followed by a front (syncopated) vowel plus a rhotic consonant , and preceded by a consonant (e.g. Lat. vinc(e)re > OFr. veintre). Of particular interest is the case of k which is expected to become ʦ (→ s) in the vicinity of a front vowel. The reason why k does not undergo palatalization in forms like vintre lies in the phonotactics of (Old) French. This language disallows any occurrence of sibilant+rhotic, although it complies with the sonority profile of a branching onset. Stated informally within the Government Phonology framework, this means that a sibilant cannot license a rhotic consonant in French. The loss of the front vowel in forms like vincere results in an illicit *ʦr or *sr, which is reinterpreted as tr, leading to veintre