Re: [tied] Satem

Albanian *gWH, *gW > z (not <zj>; the quasi-diphthong <ja> has developed from *e) and *kW > s only before front vowels (see your own examples). This is the end product of a trivial positional palatalisation, very similar to what happens in Sanskrit (*gWHe > ha, *gWe > ja, *kWe > ca), Iranian (*gWHe, *gWe > j^a, *kWe > c^a), Slavic (*gWHe, *gWe > z^e, *kWe > c^e) and innumerable other languages. The sounds in question were first delabialised (the Satem innovation) and _then_ palatalised (independently of any Satem changes): *kWe > *ke > *tSe > ... > se. What's interesting is that there are Albanian examples of _unpalatalised_ /k/ before front vowels, and that they may correspond to PIE *k (e.g. kohë 'time' < *ke:s-, cf. Slavic *c^asU). This would make Albanian a sole modern witness of the three-way contrast, but it must be added that the examples are few and not undisputed.

Piotr

----- Original Message -----
From: David Sánchez

To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 8:51 AM

Subject: Re: [tied] Satem

What about Albanian, Piotr? that presents Satemised form together with non-satemised forms:

(1) Albanian <zjarm> 'fire' < IE <*gWhermos> [*gWh > zj, satemisation???]

(2) Albanian <pjek> 'I roast' < IE <*pekWo:> [regular *kW > k]

     Albanina <djeg> 'I burn' < IE <*dhegWo:> [regular *gWh > g]

     Albanian <pesë> 'five' < IE <*penkWe> [*kW > s ?????]

(3) Albaninan <thome, thotë> 'I say, he says' < IE <*k^emi, *k^eti> [regular *k^ > th]

     Albanian <dhëndër> 'son-in-law' < IE <*g^em@...> [regular *g^ > dh]

(4) Albanian <kam> 'i have' < IE <*kap.mi>

Another question, Piotr, we must conclude from these data that reconstructions with two "gutural" series must be abandoned?