--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "tgpedersen" <tgpedersen@...> wrote:
>
>
> > This is all weak reasoning, it's becuase I find the concept of
> > creolization and shibboleth causing the loss of <-s> plurals
> > difficult to understand. The process is not clear to me from what
> > you have said.
>
> Try asking.
>
>
> Torsten
>
Well, I think I understand better now, and give you credit. But on
one point I differ with you: OHG may have had non-s plurals regularly
from original s-plurals from the regular loss of unstressed final -z.
Cf. the gen. sg. of feminine ō-stems, which is -a from *-ôz with
shortening of the vowel. In other words, I think HG's lack of
s-plurals is due to regular phonetic change, not social forces or
creolization or shibboleth.
Andrew