Re: [tied] Indo-European /a/

P&G wrote:

> For some people, it is a matter of doctrine that *a is always and only < *e
> coloured by h2. Others allow that there are about 20 roots for which we
> seem to have to reconstruct *a, without any evidence for h2. Examples
> include *sal "slat", *k'ad "fall", *kan "sing", *nas "nose", though
> individual instances will no doubt be disputed. It remains one of the
> points of debate in PIE phonology.

In some cases the "plain velars" may have had an a-colouring effect on
*e. One possible case is the root *kan- 'sing'; traces of ablaut may be
visible in Toch.A kaM, B ken 'melody' < *konos.

Piotr