Odp: Lesbianism and IE gender distinction

----- Original Message -----

From: Dennis Poulter

To: cybalist@egroups.com

Sent: Friday, January 21, 2000 2:04 PM

Subject: [cybalist] Lesbianism and IE gender distinction

As regards the IE feminine, I read somewhere that the -H (laryngeal) ending originally denoted a collective, the idea being that it was connected with femininity through herd animals (cows, goats etc.) being females. Perhaps also IE families were polygamous. So that men such as sailors (nauta) or farmers (agricola) were seen as a collective (team?).

 

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You're on the right track. Can't say more now. I'm preparing a summary of what I think about the evolution of gender in IE. I'll post it when it's ready, which may mean Sunday or Monday.

 

Piotr