[tied] Re: ka and k^a

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

> ***
> Patrick:
>
> 1) There is nothing "unrealistic" about *e, *a, *o.

Do you know of an existing language with such a vowel inventory?

I cannot (yet) say that /e a o/ is unrealistic, but /i a u/ is *more*
probable, since languages with only three vowels tend to maximize the
distinctions between them.

> 2) Whether more three-vowel languages have *i, *a, *u, or *e, *a,
> *o does not determine what pre-PIE had.

True, but it does affect the likelihood for different scenarios of
(pre-)IE.

> 3) Since Miguel remains silent, let me ask you: what possible
> practical difference does it make to prefer *e, *a, and *o to your
> *i, *a, and *u?
>
> ***

The difference of less typological realism (notice I do not
say "unrealism") to more.

- Rob