Picene

From: Antonio Sciarretta
Message: 14672
Date: 2002-08-28

From the analysis of the place-names recorded in the classical sources for the Adriatic region (let's say from the Cunarus mons to the Garganus mons), I could be able to suggest the existence of a linguistic stratum mainly characterized by a stop shift similar to that of Anatolian, Germanic, Thracian, etc. That is, the PIE voiced stops *b,d,g went into voiceless p,t,k. This stratum can be distinguished from (more recent) Eastern-Italic (Osco-Umbrian) also for the preservation of aspirated voiced stops. Some example I think I've found are:

In Samnium Terventum and *Atessa and *Treste fl. and *Trinius fl. and Aternus fl. and *Tirinus fl. for the shift *d>t, Buca for the shifts *bh>b and *g>k. Possibly (if not Daunian) also Duronia for the shift *dh>d, Aquilonia for the preservation of *kw

In Picenum Cupra and Cupra Montana and Pausulae for the shift *b>p, Tolentinum and Truentus fl. and Matrinus fl. for the shift *d>t. Possibly (if not Western Italic, i.e., Proto-Latin) also Albula fl. and Beregra, for the shift *bh>b

I called this stratum "Picene", like the only Adriatic people that did not belong with certainty to the Sabellian stock. If you want, you can have more details in
http://digilander.libero.it/toponomastica/samnium.html
and
http://digilander.libero.it/toponomastica/picenum.html

I wonder if someone is interested in the discussion of such names and of my "theory".
Best regards

Antonio Sciarretta
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