[tied] Re: Schwa (Was PIE Reconstruction)

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Ryan" <proto-language@...>
wrote:

>
> Would it not be better to call these phones coronals rather
> than dentals?

Why? Weren't most of their reflexes specifically
dental?

> To go by the articulatory (part of the) organ rather than the
> point of articulation?

Do you mean you prefer to name the sounds after
the lower articulator rather than the upper?

> Similarly, dorsals rather than velars or palatals.

Well 'dorsal' alone won't do in place of 'velar'
and 'palatal', which make a two-way distinction.
You need at least 'antero-dorsal' and 'postero-
dorsal', and 'labio-(postero-)dorsal' besides,
to serve in place of 'labio-velar'.

It's difficult to see what advantage is gained.

David