Re: English Lack of /a/ (was: The oddness of Gaelic words in p-)

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Ryan" <proto-language@...>
wrote:

>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Richard Wordingham" <richard.wordingham@...>
> To: <cybalist@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2008 1:19 PM
> Subject: [tied] English Lack of /a/ (was: The oddness of Gaelic

words in p-)

>
>
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "tgpedersen" <tgpedersen@> wrote:
> > --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "dgkilday57" <dgkilday57@> wrote:
>
> > > That is, I do not believe that any stage of PIE ever lacked /a/
> > > entirely.
> >
> > English does, with a few exceptions.
>
> I don't see how one can claim that without conceding that Sanskrit
> lacked /a/. (The Sanskrit vowel usually denoted as /a/ is at least
> as high as [æ].)
>
> Richard.
>
> ***
>
> Patrick:
>
> Richard, what convinces you that Sanskrit <a> is a front vowel, at any
> height?

Nothing. It was a lowish central vowel. I said it was at least as
*high* as [æ].

Richard.