[tied] Re: PIE Punctual and Durative

From: raonath
Message: 46876
Date: 2007-01-01

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "P&G" <G.and.P@...> wrote:

> [...] the fact that present stem formations are
> normally marked, whereas aorists aren't?

This claim has always bothered me, as is the related claim that
the aorist shows more irregularities than the present. This is
patently false for Sanskrit where the most irregularities are
seen in the root present, which far outnumber root aorists.
Even in RV, which form root injunctives and indicatives from
more roots than later forms, the irregularities cluster in root
forms (whether classed as presents or aorists) than in sigmatic
aorists (where I ignore purely phonological issues relating to
consonant clusters which are regular once you master sandhi rules).

I don't think that it is a coincidence that aorist=prefective,
present stem=imperfective equation runs to serious trouble in
Hittite and Sanskrit, precisely where root presents abound.

Nath Rao