Re: [tied] PIE *CVC roots as Punctual (Aorist)

From: Patrick Ryan
Message: 38345
Date: 2005-06-04

 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, May 30, 2005 10:58 AM
Subject: Re: [tied] PIE *CVC roots as Punctual (Aorist)

I asserted, some time ago on this list, that an unmarked *CVC verbal root (that does not terminate in *-<b>H</b>, *-<b>y</b>, or *-<b>w</b>) in PIE was inherently punctual. This idea was denied by another list correspondent.

Since the, I have made a study of the *CVC roots listed in Rix (LIV), and have compiled the following statistics:

The total number of roots in Rix is, according to our count: 1138.

The total number of *CVC verbal roots that do not terminate in *-<b>H</b>, *-<b>y</b>, or *-<b>w</b>, is, according to our count: 212, or 18.6% of the total number of roots.

Of the counted *CVC verbal roots, 184 form presents by additions to the root in order to obtain a durative meaning; that is 86.7%.

Of the counted *CVC verbal roots, 72 form root aorists; that is 33.9%.

On the basis of the figures compiled here, the proposition that any PIE *<b>CVC</b>-root that did not terminate in *-<b>H</b>, *-<b>y</b>, or *-<b>w</b> was inherently punctual, is supported.

 

The complete study can be found at:

http://www.geocities.com/proto-language/PIE-CVC-Punctual Roots.htm

 

Patrick