Re: *a/*a: ablaut

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, Piotr Gasiorowski <gpiotr@...> wrote:

>
> On 2008-02-14 22:44, Richard Wordingham wrote:
>
> > Actually, it has an unusual degree of symmetry. 4 vowel systems are
> > usually more asymmetric. For yet more examples, we have the
> > Proto-Austronesian system of /a, e, i, u/, and the Cree system, with
> > length contrasts, of /a, e, i, o/. Indeed the latter system seems
> > quite widespread in Canada.
>
> Yes, I mentioned the fact that /a, e, i, u/ was more widespread than
> systems with a central vowel (auditory salience probably plays a role
> here). Actually, such a system may be preferable for pre-PIE if one
> takes Ockham's Razor into account.

This is exactly the system I've been proposing.

For a really weird system there is Proto-Ute-Aztecan /i I\ a o u/.