Re: [tied] PIE *CVC roots as Punctual (Aorist)

----- Original Message -----

From: Patrick Ryan

To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, May 30, 2005 10:58 AM

Subject: Re: [tied] PIE *CVC roots as Punctual (Aorist)

I asserted, some time ago on this list, that an unmarked *CVC verbal root (that does not terminate in *-H, *-y, or *-w) in PIE was inherently punctual. This idea was denied by another list correspondent.

Since the, I have made a study of the *CVC roots listed in Rix (LIV), and have compiled the following statistics:

The total number of roots in Rix is, according to our count: 1138.

The total number of *CVC verbal roots that do not terminate in *-H, *-y, or *-w, is, according to our count: 212, or 18.6% of the total number of roots.

Of the counted *CVC verbal roots, 184 form presents by additions to the root in order to obtain a durative meaning; that is 86.7%.

Of the counted *CVC verbal roots, 72 form root aorists; that is 33.9%.

On the basis of the figures compiled here, the proposition that any PIE *CVC-root that did not terminate in *-H, *-y, or *-w was inherently punctual, is supported.

The complete study can be found at:

http://www.geocities.com/proto-language/PIE-CVC-Punctual Roots.htm

Patrick