Yes, the substitution of borrowed [f]
by [p] is found in the Baltic languages as well, for exactly the same reason as
in Slavic (no native [f]).
The Latin substitution is quite
natural, given that the Classical Greek pronunciation was [pH]. Another
nice example is purpura < porphura. As you
correctly note, this is especialy true of archaic Latin, in which
Philemo:n was nativised as Pilemo. Later,
educated Romans tried to imitate the aspiration, sometimes even overdoing it a
little (hence "refained" pseudo-Greek pulcher which ousted
the historically expected
form pulcer/polcer). From the first
century onwards we find examples of "ph" --> "f" (Filippus,
etc.) in Latin inscriptions. This new substitution pattern is due to the Greek
change [pH] > [f].
Piotr
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 6:34 PM
Subject: Re: [tied] Re: The Birds - etymology found
This f> p also occurs in Lithuanian, right? cf.
Steponas
It's curious that archaic Latin loans
from Greek also had f>p cf. Phoinix > *Poinikos> Pu:nicus