Metathesis of liquids

Metathesis of liquids

So-called sound law metathesis of liquids is not unknown phenomenon
in linguistics. It has very big importance, especially in Slavic
languages, to explain primary forms of the words from PIE roots.
I found out that also in Albanian language the metathesis of liquids
(R – V > V – R and L – V > V – L) is present, but not in such
extensions as in Slavic languages and is completely different from
one of Slavic languages (V – R > R – V and V – L > L – V).
In Albanian language the metathesis of liquids has blocking factor –
stress, because words underwent to the metathesis of liquids only if
the vocal is in an unstressed position that is not the case in Slavic
languages.

I. Metathesis R – V > V – R

1.1. Liquids' metathesis r – a > a(ë) – r
Old Dalmatian and Romanian prefix <stra-> preserves primary form of
Albanian prefix <stër->, due to liquids' metathesis r – a > ë(a) – r
(this prefix is synonimic with other Albanian prefix <katra-> from
number katër `four': Alb. <katra•gjysh> 'grand-father' and
<stër•gjysh> 'id.') .
Same kind of metathesis, to our view, we find in Alb. <kërcu,
~ni/kërcu, ~ri> `chump, log'< krasun, ~i, attested from preserved in
Rom. <kraciun> `Christmas tree'.
This kind of metathesis is also present in Alb. <grahmë> `snore,
whiff'' and denominal <gërhas> `to snore, sniff'; Alb.
<arsye> `reason', a Latin loan, from <ratio:, ~nis>.

Note: About evolution Alb. /s/ <=> /ci/ see: Rom. <caciula>, Alb.
<kësulë> `cap, hat'; Rom. <cioara>, Alb. <sorrë> `crow, rook'; Rom.
<ciuca>, Alb. <sukë> 'hillock' etc. And for Alb. rs > rc see aor.
<krisa>, but present <kërcas> `to crack, shot', where we have also
liquids' metathesis r – i > i (ë) – r, like in aor. <brita> , but
present <bërtas> `to shout, cry, scream'.

1.2. Liquids' metathesis r – i > i (ë) – r
Until we deal with this type of metathesis I like to point out also
Illyrian <brisa> `grape's husk' > Alb. <bërsí> `grounds, dregs';
Latin loans: Alb. <fërkoj> `to rub' < Lat. <fricare>; Alb.
<fërgoj> `to fry' < Lat. <frigare>; Alb. <fërgëlloj> 'shiver' < Lat.
<frigere> (after disimilation r – r > r – l);
<kërshndella> `Christmas' < Lat. Christi Natale; <i kërshten/ i
kërshterë> (Alb. plural of Lat. Christus).
To this type belong too Venetian <briseola>> Alb. <bërxollë> `chop',
Slavic <prispeti> `to pup up' > Alb. <përspjet> `id.' and Turkish
<çikrik> > Alb. <çekërk> `reel, winch'.
We believe that Alb. word <bërthamë> `core' is also a result of this
kind of metathesis, derived from metathetic variant of dimunitive
<brith> (> bërth) `little horn' and suffix –amë of the noun
<bri> 'horn'. This dimunitive form of nouns, to my view, is present
also in <kërthí> `child, literaly "little head' from <krye> `head'
and <kërthízë> `navel'.
This kind of metathesis shows as well as Albanian word
<kërmill> `snail, slug', extended form of <krim(b)> `worm' < *kWrm.i-
`id.'.

1.3. Liquids' metathesis r – o > o(ë) – r
Same phenomenon we notice in PIE *pro- `for' > Alb. për- ( r –o > ë
(o) – r (see Pokorny, *per-2, pp. 810-816); Rom. <grumaz> , Alb.
<gurmaz> `esophagus, throat' (r – u > u – r), for Romanian form
preserved much older form. Etymologically I believe that this word
have had preform *gromaz.
In verb <dërmoj> (rom. darima `demolish'), besides noun
<dromcë> `crumb, bit' < drom•së>, <droçkë> `clot (of blood)' we have
too metathesis of liquids r – o > o (ë) – r.

II. Metathesis L – V > V – L

2.1. Liquids' metathesis l – a > a(ë) – l
Aor. <plasa>, but present <pëlcas> `to break out' ( < palsas, notice
ls > lc like rs > rc in aor. <krisa>, but present <kërcas>); <pëlqej>
(< palqej) `to like, desire' from Lat. <placere>.

2.2. Liquids' metathesis l – i > i (ë) – l
Aor. <klitha>, substantive <klithmë> and present <këlthas> `to
scream'.
Generally we may say that structure RVC- under the impact of stress
became VRC- , as well as LVC- became VLC-, where R and L are liquids.
This phenomenon should be further investigatet, for I found it
present in many PIE suffixes of the type –lo, -ro etc.

Any comments?

Abdullah Konushevci