Re: Warning to list: Race and anthropology

Thank you very much, Piotr.
You gave me confidence in this topic I needed.

One particular question remains, one of those questions which made me
hesitate. I hope it also can be well explained.

[Piotr]
Modern Ossetic displays the effects of several historical changes that are
also ascribed to Sarmatian and Alanic on the basis of documented proper
names and loanwords. One of the most characteristic features of Alanic and
Ossetic is the shift of Proto-Iranian *r into *l, mainly before *i and *j
(*-ri-, *-rj- > *-li-, *-l-). The very name "Alanoi" is derived from the
adjective *arjana-.
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Ossets call themselves "Iron" (or "Digoron"). This word is thought to be a
reflex of Aryana.

What do we have then?
Aryana > Alanoi > Iron, i.e. *-rj- > *-l- > *-r- .
Rivers flow backward?
Or "Iron" means something else but Aryana?

And BTW another naive question.
Why this shift (*-ri-, *-rj- > *-li-, *-l-) is not reflected in the name of
Sarmatians (original Avestan Sairima) as well? We don't call them
"Salmatians".

Alexander