preOld

preOld is a term used in speculative historical linguistics to denote a proto-language stage presumed to precede the historically attested 'Old' stage of a language family. It serves as a label for linguistic features and divergences older than the earliest written Old texts but not yet recoverable as a single, unified ancestor.

Origin and usage: The term is not universally accepted and is most common in discussions of early diversification before Old forms solidified. It is a methodological tool rather than a defined stage, with interpretations that vary by language family and scholarly tradition.

Position in chronology: In many frameworks, the order is Proto-Language → preOld → Old → Middle → Modern. preOld attempts to capture prehistory evidenced by indirect data such as regular sound correspondences and shared irregularities among early descendants.

Estimated features: Because preOld is not attested, proposed traits are speculative and model-dependent. Common suppositions include comparatively conservative phonology, retention of early inflectional patterns, and a lexicon with regional variation before standard Old forms emerge.

Limitations and debate: The label rests on reconstructions rather than inscriptions. Critics contend it can obscure diversity among dialects; proponents view it as a useful scaffold for tracing early linguistic change.

See also: Proto-language, Proto-Germanic, Old English, historical linguistics.