[tied] Re: PIE *y > Gr ?

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "P&G" <petegray@...> wrote:

> >it is
> >an open question whether *H2y- yields /h-/ because *H2 is

voiceless,

> >or /z-/ because *H2 is also a somewhat strong sound.
>
> I have a note from somewhere that "there was early coalescence of *

(-)h2y-

> into a single segment, with resyllabification:
> *kreuh2-yo- > *kreu.ço- > * kreu.yo- (cf Skt kravya)
> Thus always in initial position, which is why Greek has prothetic

vowels

> before *w- but never before *y-."
>
> If true, this would suggest *h2y- > y-

Interesting point. An even more telling indication from Greek itself
is the derivational line of, e.g., bía: => biázo:. It would also be
unpleasant if z- were exclusively from *H3y- which is hardly such a
common thing.

Jens