Re: ka and k^a [was: [tied] *kW- "?"]

----- Original Message -----
From: "glen gordon" <glengordon01@...>
To: <cybalist@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 6:24 PM
Subject: Re: ka and k^a [was: [tied] *kW- "?"]


>
> Patrick:
> > Anttila states that the commonest vowel scheme
> > around the world is front, central, back, with
> > height irrelevant.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vowel
>
> "A few languages, such as Navajo, have four-
> vowel systems that lack /u/ but there is no
> known natural language that lacks some form
> of a."
>
> "Some form of a" means "a _low_ vowel". Ergo, height
> is obviously relevant. However, you on the other hand
> appear to be far less so.
>
>
> = gLeN

***
Patrick:

You must be blind if you cannot see that <a> in that section of the article
refers to a central vowel:

i u

e o

a

Some form of <a> means a central vowel, a common variety of which is low.

***