On 2007-11-25 21:33, fournet.arnaud wrote:
> I feel it odd that long u can become vy with initial #v-
> Should it not be *w-schwa-H-dh-m ?
No, it's OK. The vowel spelt "y" in Slavic reconstructions reflects long
*u: of whatever origin. It's realisation in the modern languages varies
(it's generally unrounded and high, but can be back, middle of
centralised front); however, it was once rounded, hence the prothetic v-
(from *[w]) before it.
It's the same in other words beginning with *u:- or *u-; they have
Slavic vy-, vU-. Most Slavic languages dislike empty syllable onets and
often fill them up in this way, hence also e- > je-, e^-, a- > ja-, etc.
Piotr