Re: [tied] Re: Etymology of PIE *ph2ter

Richard Wordingham wrote:

>>> No, it's from da-da.
>>
>> Why not from <dad>? Or would you simply allow <dad> as a
>> possible intermediate step, with both da-da > daddy and
>> da-da > dad > daddy?
>
> My point was why /d/? My idea was that something like /dada/ might be
> an acceptable approximation to _fæder_, whereas /tata/ has nothing
> going for it.
>
> Richard.

interesting that for other languages, mostly unknown, people are ready
to see immediate an disasimilation there where something "looks-like".
thus, from "faeder" to "daeder" and from here to "dad" with diminutive
"dady" appears a very short way.

Alex