Reflexes of *o in newly closed syllables in the Volyn-Polissia dialects

The article examines concepts related to the evolution of *о > і, analyzes scholars’ views on the reasons of differences between reflexes of *о in Ukrainian dialects, and describes the stages of *о transformation in the northern and the southern areas of the Ukrainian sprachraum. Attention is given to the nature of diphthong appearance according to two major theories – by Y. Sheveliov and by V. Moisiyenko. The author describes current reflexes of *о in newly closed stressed syllables, as documented in her own field records obtained in 120 towns and villages of Volyn Polissia. She establishes that typical for the Volyn-Polissia dialects sounds [и], [і] are simultaneously spread across all the area under research, while the monophthong [у] – only in its eastern parts. Alongside other reflexes, *о is sometimes (quite sporadically) preserved. While recording samples, the author has not come across diphthongs appertaining to *о, but recorded structures that are usually interpreted as the result of diphthongs breaking up: the consonant [в] + vowel, and the sound [е] < *о. The article includes a map.