Re: PIE Word Formation (2) => o-grades versus nil-grades

From: alexandru_mg3
Message: 44016
Date: 2006-03-31

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, Piotr Gasiorowski <gpiotr@...>
wrote:

> The unstressed o-vocalism of the *bHor-ó-/*bHor-áh2- type has been
> exhaustively treated by Jens Rasmussen, who was kind enough to
present a
> convenient summary here:
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cybalist/message/30940
>

Hello Piotr,

Please be so kind and explain me how you can decide between an o-
grade reconstruction or a nil-grade one when both seems equally
possible (at least for me)


Examples from Albanian:

I) root *bHerh1g^- 'white'

*bHrh1g^-o/eh2 > PAlb bárdza: > Alb bardhë 'white'
so [PIE *rh1 > Alb ar]
Note: as you know this is 'your derivation'

or

*bHórh1g^-o/eh2 > PAlb bárdza: > Alb bardhë 'white'
so [PIE *or > Alb ar]
Note: this is Demiraj's derivation published on Leiden (the
stressed is not marked on Leiden)



II) *(s)kerh1- 'to cut'

*(s)krh1-p-o/eh2 > PAlb kárpë 'rock'
so [PIE *rh1 > Alb ar]

Note: This derivation seems 'equally possible' for me with the next
one based on the previous one and based on other *rh1 Albanian
examples too

or
*(s)kórh1-p-o/eh2 > PAlb kárpë 'rock' (>Carpathians)
so [PIE *or > Alb ar]
Note: this is Demiraj's derivation too (the stressed is not marked
on Leiden)

I read and re-read Jen's article, but finally it seems that I didn't
understand anything viewing that I'm not able to apply something on
the concrete examples: Jens, please to help me too.


Thanks a lot to both,
Marius