Re: Vocalic Theory ('Laryngeal' Theory)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick McCallister" <gabaroo6958@...>
To: <cybalist@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:55 PM
Subject: Re: [tied] RE: Vocalic Theory ('Laryngeal' Theory)


>
> --- etherman23 <etherman23@...> wrote:
>
> > --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Ryan"
> > <proto-language@...>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > I never seem to be able to communicate this very
> > simple principle to some people:
> > >
> > > PIE roots are either CV or CVC(V). There
> > are no exceptions.
> >
> > It's clear that there are so many exceptions that
> the rule can't
> > possibly be true.
>
> This is the kind of problem that emerges when your
> rely on a priori "knowledge" (i.e. assumptions) rather
> than a posteriori empiricism. See Willard Van Orman
> Quine's "Two Dogmas of Empiricism." Ray, Piotr, David,
> Torsten and everyone else have shown a posteriori
> empirical evidence that contradicts the a priori
> assumption. To remain credible, you'll have to change
> the paradigm.

***

Patrick:

Generalizations like the above mean next to nothing.

If you dispute my claim for defining root-form, provide an example or two
that negates it.


***