Diachronics of plural inflection in the Gallo-Italian languages
# Diachronics of plural inflection in the Gallo-Italian languages

The general lines of diachronics of Lombard and Piedmontese plural declension are drawn here:

## Feminine

In Lombard and Piedmontese, feminine plural is generally derived from Latin first declension accusative -as (compare Romance plurals § Origin of vocalic plurals); nouns from other classes first collapsed there; some concrete realisations are:

* -as > -a
* -as > -es > -e
* -as > -es > -ei > -i
* -as > -es > -ei > -i > -e
* -as > -es > -ei > -i > -∅

## Masculine

On the contrary, masculine plural is generally derived from Latin second declension nominative -i; this suffix eventually drops or gives rise to palatalisation or metaphonesis; some concrete realisations are:

* -li > -lj > -gl > -j
* -ni > -nj > -gn
* -ti > -tj > -cc
* Metaphonesis (in regression) : orti > öört;
* Neutralisation: -i > -∅
