[tied] Re: PIE Word Formation (2)

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "P&G" <G&P@...> wrote:

>
> > I can't see PIE having less than 3 vowels. Even then 4 makes

more sense.

>
> However many vowels you give it, it is extremely odd as a

language, in that

> it seems to use only e (or o in relatively predictable situations)

for full

> grade stems.
>
> > IMO, *ei and *eu are the result of stressing *i and *u,
>
> Now there's a wonderful idea!

I think so too, I've proposed it myself.


Pre-PIE had the vowels **i, u, r, l, m, n,

> but speakers did what we know has happened several times, at least

in

> Germanic:
> /i/ > /&i/, /u/ > /&u/

How about: full vowels i, u, a,

in three grades:

originally
1 stressed ey, ou, e
2 unstressed i, u, schwa
3 re-stressed ey, ou, o

later systematised
(on the basis of the reflexes of *a)
in some IE dialects as
1 stressed ey, eu, e
2 unstressed i, u, schwa
3 re-stressed oy, ou, o


Torsten