Re: Latin tenebrae derivation

From: Piotr Gasiorowski
Message: 62091
Date: 2008-12-15

On 2008-12-15 23:07, alexandru_mg3 wrote:

> But why e-a > e-e?

*a and *e merged as *e in non-initial syllables. Before a single
consonant, they would have become /i/, but apparently the -br- cluster
protected the /e/ from furter reduction (in colloquial Latin it could
even make the penultimate syllable heavy and stressed, cf. Sp. tiniƩblas.

> and especially why -m- > -n-?

Dissimilation of /m...b/.

Piotr