Re: [tied] The origin of *ek^wos and *o:k^u-... A mystery solved

Latin /a/ is too common as a generalised weak-grade vowel (cf. quattuor, fractus, etc.) to be a sure indicator of *h2. The composition form *h1k^w-i- (> *&kwi- > akki-) would work here as well (BTW the comparative o:cior 'faster' < *o:kwijo:s survives in Latin).

Piotr

----- Original Message -----
From: Miguel Carrasquer Vidal

To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2001 1:47 AM

Subject: Re: [tied] The origin of *ek^wos and *o:k^u-... A mystery solved

I'm wondering though, whether the traditional explanation, that links *o:k^ú- "fast" with *h2ak^-(u-)/*h2ok^-(u-) "sharp" is not to be preferred. Pokorny's "schnell (scharf in der Bewegung)" is not some semantical handwave, but is backed up by Latin <accipiter> (*aku-peter "sharp-flying") and Slavic <jastre(~)bU> (*o:k^r- "fast"), both meaning "hawk, falcon". If so, then the laryngeal in *o:k^ú- is *h2, and any link with *h1ek^wos is off.