Re: Negation

On 2008-12-09 00:57, Andrew Jarrette wrote:

> (Actually as I write this the combined
> evidence of <æ:fre>, <la:ferce>, and <cla:fre> beside *aiw-,
> <la:uricæ>, and <chle:o> now makes me feel that there must be
> something to this idea of /-wr-/ becoming /-vr-/ in OE and perhaps
> other Gmc languages (why didn't it happen, apparently, initially in
> OE?).

It may be significant that all the three words have *w in a rather
specific context, namely /*ai_r. The context is not only rare but also
fairly late (resulting from vowel syncope and, at least in the case of
Liberman's putative *aiw-izan-, rhotacism). At least here's a suggestion
where one could look for more examples.

> But as you say the formation *aiwizan is not found anywhere
> else, so *a:/æ:(in)feore etc. seems likelier, I agree with you. And
> why not *æ:fra (normal comparative form) or *æ:for/*æ:fer (comp. adv.)
> instead of <æ:fre>? (Or even *æ: < *aiwiz, comp. adv.? And does *aiw-
> function as an adjective in Germanic or OE?)

The acc.sg. neuter in -e of the comparative grade of adjectives is
sometimes used in lieu of the normal adverbial form (e.g. wi:dre
'farther, more widely'. I think some of them are fossilised accusatives
of duration/distance; such usage would have beeen more or less natural
with 'ever', I suppose (see Goth. aiw, which is also an accusative,
etymology-wise).

Piotr