prothetic e [was Gemination in Celtic

From: P&G
Message: 56485
Date: 2008-04-03

>How and why did the prothetic e- arise in French,
>Spanish, etc.?

Since I don't see a reply from anyone who knows, please accept one from
someone who doesn't.

(a) Initial sC- has caused a problem in several languages, which is eased in
different ways. The simplest is to insert a vowel beforehand. I don't
think it means there is anything special about the /s/, rather, it reflects
the fact that some languages find that combination awkward. cf Ismirna for
the old Smyrna, and so on.

(b) prothetic <e> presumably because it is more neutral, in some sense -
non-high, non-low, non-rounded. Does it actually reflect a spelling of /&/
?

In other words, I haven't a clue, but I thought your email looked lonely.

Peter