Re: [tied] Re: Schwa (Was PIE Reconstruction)

On PIE "thorn"

It may be helpful to give a little more information.
In addition to the roots already mentioned, there are:

Greek /ktisi/ ~ Skt ks.ití ~ Av s^iti "living quarters"
Greek /phthisis/ ~ Skt ks.íti ~ av xs^yo: "desctruction"
Greek /ktizw/ ~ Skt ks.eti "settle"
Greek /ktaomai/ ~ SKt ksayati "get"
and in medial position:
Greek /arktos/ ~ Skt r.ksa "bear"
and in final position
Greek /tekto:n/ ~ Skt taks.ati "weave, etc"

The consonant following the root vowel is never a stop, in any of the words
with a "thorn" cluster. (This is also true for all roots in Greek where pt
alternates with p, or where Greek pt corresponds to p outside Greek).
This pattern points to a rearrangement from an original **CeC-R to *CCeR.

From these words we can build up corresponence tables:

Pokorny * k^þ Vedic ks. Avestan s^ Greek kt
* kþ Vedic ks. Avestan xs^ Greek kt
*kWþ Vedic ks. Avestan - Greek pt
*g^ð Vedic ks. Avestan - Greek chth
*gWHð Vedic ks. Avestan Gz^ Greek phth

There is also evidence from Hittite and Tocharian, but it is not as
straightforward as has been claimed on this list.
e.g. the Tocharian "earth" word appears as tkam (Toch A) but also as ksaise
(older Toch B) and this later form points to a pre-Tocharian kt- cluster,
not tek-.

Greek likewise shows variation in forms, but these may be internal
developments.

Overall the best explanation seems to be as Jen suggests, but I don't hink
we should pretend this is without problems.

Peter