Re: Diphthong Distributions

From: Jens Elmegård Rasmussen
Message: 46492
Date: 2006-10-27

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "tgpedersen" <tgpedersen@...> wrote:

[Jens:]
> > [] Tehhi and
> > uhhi reflect a simple sound change ai > e: before h.

> You mean ai > e: and au > u:? That's not even symmetrical.

Note that there is no Hittite o in the transcriptions. It is often
assumed, with good cause I'd say, that Cu-u- may stand for [Co:], in
contradistinction to Cu-ú- which always spells [Cu:].


> > Kimball has a fine chapter on diphthongs. She says they are
> > basically retained before resonants and s, 2sg daitti and
> > autti being then analogical.
>
> So, 1sg tehhi and uhhi follow the rule, and 2sg daitti and
> autti are analogical. A-hem. I prefer my explanation.

I tend to agree. However, I like the view that diphthongs just
remained before /t/ better.

Jens