Alexander:
>Another question - is the IE "red" word a proper IE word (i.e. a Nostratic
>heritage) or an early loan (perhaps from Sumerian)?
Not from Sumerian. From a "Semitish" (or a very northerly Semitic)
substrate. I think that IE *?roudHo- "copper-colour, red" < Mid IE
*er�ud& "copper". I suggested earlier that it was in turn borrowed
from a Semitish compound. Without knowing exactly the roots in
question, I can only presume a form like *weri-?�rDu- "metal (of)
earth". This would also be the source of Sumerian /urudu/.
At any rate, any direct contact between Sumerian and IndoEuropeans
at any date is absurd.
= gLeN
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