Re: [tied] The 'lamb' word [Was: Re: Mi- and hi-conjugation in Germ

On 05-03-19 16:25, elmeras2000 wrote:

>
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, Piotr Gasiorowski <gpiotr@...>
>> ... vr.ddhi applied ad hoc?).
>
> I meant the latter. With words of unknown derivation we do
> everything ad hoc.

Not quite. The assumption of Winter's Law in *h2agWno- or a derivative
thereof is not ad hoc. It explains the length in the most economic way
by invoking a BSl. change which certainly operated in similar
environments, even if we know of still unexplained exceptions. An
original short vowel represents the unmarked grade and as such does not
call for a special explanation, while vrddhi is a marked state, and
_unmotivated_ vrddhi is sure to create more problems than it can solve.
Ockham's Razor applies here.

Piotr

> What motivation is there for the presence of /-n-
> / other than the superficial fact that we see it? Similarly, what
> motivation is there for the assumption of a short vowel rather than
> a long one?