Richard Wordingham wrote:
>> OK, the infinitive form is "a zice"
>>
>> Latin di:ce(re) > PBR *dice > *diece > *dz'ece > *zece
>
> Alex, what do you base this sequence of developments on? Fallible
> memory? Analogy with etymologies you can remember? (The latter can
> be sabotaged by knowing the Latin spelling but not having seen the
> length marks.) Try them out with the 'toy' I provided -
> http://homepage.ntlworld.com/richard.wordingham/sounds/prep5d_rom.htm
> Richard.
Because of its singluarity. The "di:cere" is the only one word which give
"zi" in that position.
First of all, I am puzled by the fact that in initial position Latin "di:"
has just only one representat. And this is this "di:cere", no another word.
Better said, from all the words which are in Rom. and they begin with "zi"
there are just two which are supposed to derive from Latin:
die:s > ziu�
di:cere > zice.
Bon remarque: Latin /di:/ in initial position has just only a representant
in Ro. and this is the questionable "zice".
I contiuned with "ze/z�" which should derive as per rules made known here
from a Latin "di" or "de". It seems they are missing too in initial
position. Here are all the words:
dia:natecus ~ z�natec ( compare with Latin dianatecus)
di:a:na ~ z�n� (probabl. from Latin Diana)
decem > zece
dext(e)rae > zestre ( semantism does not matches)
di:cere > zice
die:s > ziu�
It appears as in Albanian, a very reduced number of words. Amazing reduced.
Considering just what is thought to be sure we remain just at three words:
decem > zece
di:cere > zice
die:s > ziu�
That is all.Take the DEX and look at. That is all from Latin "di:" , "di",
"de:" "de" in initial position which yelded an "z" in Rom. . Enough for
making a rule of this? It seems it is enough. I need more time for the words
which presents latin "di" & "de" within Romanian words since in electronic
format I have finished Albanian loans from Latin only..
It appears though very poor to me the percentage and I indeed wonder why
just 3 words? Sincerly I have expected more.
Alex