Re: *a/*a: ablaut

From: fournet.arnaud
Message: 52841
Date: 2008-02-12

>> Yes, in the sense that long *a: reflects an original pre-PIE vowel (not
>> a vowel + laryngeal sequence). Whether the vowel was originally long or
>> became long between pre-PIE and PIE is an open question.
>>
>> Piotr
>
> ***
> Let us assume that a given *a: in PIE was pre-PIE *a. Could you give me
> an idea of what process could lengthen it? - vrdhi will, of course, not be
> supremely convincing.
> Patrick
========================
I must say that I definitely disagree that
Pre-PIE (something that remains to be defined) had long vowels,

My own theory about the acquisition of short / long contrast
is the replacement of reduplicated initials.
C1_C1_C2 with short vowel
was replaced by C1_:C2 with long vowel.
Long vowels in this case started with verbs.
Typically what Latin does.

This happened within PIE time-boundaries
hence not shared by neither Semitic nor Egyptian.
It's unclear if the process happened only once at PIE stage
or afterwards in some languages only.
Open question for me.

Arnaud

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