The theory of Analogical and Exemplar Modeling (AEM) suggests renewed discussion of the formalization of analogy and its possible incorporation in linguistic theory. AEM is a usage-based model founded upon Exemplar Modeling (Bybee 2007, Pierrehumbert 2001) that utilizes several principles of the Analogical Modeling of Language (Skousen 1992, 1995, 2002, Wanner 2005, 2006a), including the "homogeneous supracontext" of the Analogical Model (AM), frequency effects and "random-selection," while also highlighting the speaker's central and "immanent" role in language (Wanner 2006a, 2006b). Within AEM, analogy is considered a cognitive means of organizing linguistic information. The relationship between input and stored exemplars is established according to potentially any and all salient similarities, linguistic or otherwise. At the same time, this conceptualization of analogy may result in language change as a result of such similarities or variables, as they may be used in the formation of an AM for the input. Crucially, the inflectional paradigm is argued to be a possible variable since it is a higher-order unit of linguistic structure within AEM. This investigation analyzes the analogical process of Spanish velar-insertion according to AEM. Velar-insertion involves the presence of a non-etymological voiced velar obstruent /g/ appears in the first person singular present indicative and all forms of the present subjunctive, e.g. 1s PRS IND "pongo," 1s PRS SBJ "ponga," cntr. 2s PRS IND "pones." It affects a dynamic, yet heavily restricted lexical subclass of second and third conjugation verbs characterized by synchronic variation and diachronic change. The diachronic development of the velar-insert class requires a sufficient level of synchronic detail so as to properly define the AM and identify changes in its multiple phonological, morphological, lexical and paradigmatic variables. Previous analyses of velar-insertion, in Spanish and other Romance languages, are limited and/or ambiguous because they rely on the traditional notions of proportional analogy and leveling. Thus, several crucial details of the analogical process are assumed or overlooked in order to more broadly describe the diachronic extension of the velar-insert across a series of verbs having different stem-final segments. Relatedly, the imprecise defining of the AM has led to numerous hypotheses concerning the original model for velar-insertion including leader verbs like "decir," 1s PRS IND "digo," "conocer," 1s PRS IND "conozco" or "taner," OSp. 1s PRS IND "tango." Several other theoretical issues are also addressed as they relate to AEM and velar-insertion. The role of frequency in the salience and resting activation levels of exemplars explains the traditional "resistance" to regular sound change in high frequency, irregular verbs. Also, the paradigmatic structure that emerges from the allomorphic distribution of the velar is argued to be a crucial variable in the diachronic development of the velar-insert class. Finally, the preceding points in conjunction with the changes affecting the composition of the AM lend themselves to a very weak predictive power in identifying potential targets for continued extension of the velar, some of which are attested dialectally or are accepted as standard variants in Modern Spanish, as well as Catalan and Italian. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]