Re: [tied] Re: PIE Word Formation (2), correction

On 2006-04-05 09:51, P&G wrote:

> If you want an example in English of the so-called "schwebeablaut", how
> about
> wreak/wrought ~ work
> That this could be inherited is more likely, since it occurs also in Greek:
> *(w)reg-io > rezo ~ (w)ergon)

<wrought> is not inherited. It reflects OE worhte, (ge)worht, the normal
pret. and p.p. of <wyrcan> 'work'. The /Vrxt/ > /rVxt/ metathesis was
regular in Northumbrian, occasional in West Saxon, and must have been a
common feature of the dialectal background of the modern standard (cf.
bright, fright). But <wreak> (OE wrecan) is old, cf. Goth. wrikan.

Piotr