Re: [tied] "Satem" Law

Abdullah Konushevci wrote:

> For example, Slavic languages are considered to be "satem" and
> different in this way from "centum" languages (Celtic, Germanic,
> Tocharian). This means that palatal stops k' and g' which turned
> into k, g in Celtic, here in Slavic became fricatives: s and z. But
> this rule, which is the absolute law for Avestan, can be ignored by
> Common Slavic, and such words as *kamy (a stone), *bergü (a river
> bank), *gordü (a town), *go.sï (a goose) were not effected by
> this "satem" law. But still Slavic is known as a satem language, for
> the list of words having s and z instead of palatals is much longer:
> *sïrdïke (a heart), *pisati (to write), *prositi (to ask), *zïrno
> (grain), *znati (to know).
>
> http://indoeuro.bizland.com/project/grammar/grammar31.html

well, Slavic is not supposed to be absolutely satem :-) In fact the
"urwords" are indeed satem, but the Slavs loaned a lot of words from
centum languages and usualy it is said, the Germans should be this
centum Language wherefrom the Slavs got thier Centum looking words.
The late "separation" of the Slavs is not a very big point and if an
word is "panslavic" that does not mean it has to be of indigen nature.
As for "absolutely satem"... normaly there cannot be nuances in satem
/centum system. But there are. At least it seems so.

Alex