From: fournet.arnaud
Message: 55618
Date: 2008-03-21
----- Original Message -----
From: Piotr Gasiorowski
On 2008-03-21 14:54, fournet.arnaud wrote:
> What Martinet has written and thought is relevant!
>
> =================
>
> When do people plan to start reading him ?
I've read almost everything Martinet ever wrote (including _Economie des
changements phonétiques_, which is required reading for all would-be
historical linguists, also in Poland. I read if first in my student
days, and it had a lot of influence on me at the time. Since then,
however, I've become acquainted with lots of other authors (including
critics of Martinet), done a lot of thinking on my own, and Martinet's
influence has become somewhat diluted as a result. I'm perfectly aware
of his "laryngeals with appendices" proposals as well as other bold
ideas: prenasalised stops in PIE, velar affricates (*k^S etc.). I don't
believe in most of that stuff any longer (though I once bought it
wholesale). Martinet _was_ a brilliant linguist, no doubt about that,
but even geniuses can't be right all the time. Laryngeal hardening has
stood the test of time (though probably not always as originally proposed).
It's obvious to me that Miguel has read and re-read Martinet with due
attention. If anyone's making a fool of himself in this thread, it isn't
him.
Piotr
=============
Got it,
Herr Doktor Piotr.
I suppose
"L'ordre règne à Varsovie"
as they used to say in good old times.
Among the many bold proposals
Martinet made,
you forgot to mention
his system of laryngeals
I suppose it's kindof Freudian.
you forgot the best thing.
I suggest you read that again.
And your protégé can do that do.
You will both profit by this reading.
Arnaud
=================