Bizkaiko euskararen barne-egituraketazsartaldea eta sortaldea

Abstract

This paper deals with the Basque of Biscay: I analyse four features that are useful to differentiate western and eastern Biscay in dialectal terms. Even though the west/east distinction is widely used, I think it requires a more thorough analysis and refinement. This paper offers an approximation to the topic. For that purpose, I first review previous research on the subject and suggest that some often mentioned features can be excluded. Then, I discuss four useful features: a mid-vowel raising (-o + -a > ua), the plural sociative markers, the variants of the directional allative marker and variants -de & -e in the 3rd p. plural of the verb *edun. I establish the present boundaries of each feature, and then I analyse the evolution of each of them in the last centuries on the basis of old and classical texts. This analysis helps clarify the history of these particular features and also the history of the Basque of Biscay. Moreover, it provides an opportunity to rethink theoretical approaches and methodological choices.