Re: PIE meaning of the Germanic dental preterit

From: tgpedersen
Message: 54476
Date: 2008-03-02

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, Miguel Carrasquer Vidal <miguelc@...>
wrote:
>
> On Sat, 01 Mar 2008 23:52:29 -0000, "tgpedersen"
> <tgpedersen@...> wrote:
>
> >This is nicer: the 'me-thinks' construction:
> >*mis trewa satiða "by-me/for-me (a) tree was-set (3sg middle)"
> >*þus trewa satiða "by-thee/for-thee (a) tree was-set (3sg middle)"
> >*imma trewa satiða "by-him/for-him (a) tree was-set (3sg middle)"
> >
> >>
> >becomes a 'I-think' construction
> >*ik trewa satiða "by-me/for-me (a) tree was-set (3sg middle)"
> >*þu trewa satiðe:s "by-thee/for-thee (a) tree was-set (3sg middle)"
> >*is trewa satiða "by-him/for-him (a) tree was-set (3sg middle)"
> >
> >in that 3sg. is misinterpreted as a form of the 'do' verb which is
> >then used to supplement the paradigm.
>
> What does "(3sg middle)" mean at the end of the lines?

I think the ppp in *-tó and the middle secondary 3sg *-to have the
same origin.

>
> What do you think PGmc. *-a gives in the Gothic Auslaut?

I thought it gave *-a. But I'm sure you have a nasty surprise for me
up your sleeve.

> What about the plural?

I think it also started with the same impersonal construction and was
the given endings that are forms of the 'do'-verb.


Torsten