Re: [tied] Re: Eggs from birds and swift horses (was: the palatal s

From: P&G
Message: 31162
Date: 2004-02-18

>You say the s/sk theory has been put forth many times before. Could
>you give a reference to where I can read about it?

I meant only on this list, and in recent posts - though at the back of my
mind is the idea that it has come up before, about a year or so ago.

>LIV, ...I do not think the book has seen its final
>edition.

Agreed - there are a number of inconsistencies in it, and its judgments need
wider assessment, as you indicate. And thank you for the details of where
those judgements may have come from!

>The s-aorist was the default aorist which moved in if
>the old root aorist fell out of use, ... The sk-present was productive
>...But where the stem in sk has become the unmarked
>present we find it combined with an s-aorist so often that it makes
>a strong impression on me.

I don't doubt your perception. But I do doubt that this can be taken back
to PIE. I also need to ask, in what languages did the sk-present become the
"unmarked present"? I believe you suggested Tocharian. But I can't think
of any others.

Peter