Re: Barba and Bestia: bH>b (dissimilation)

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Joao S. Lopes" <josimo70@...> wrote:

>
> Latin barba (instead of expected *farba) < *bHardHa: (cf. Lit. barzda, OSl. brada, CGer *bardo:)
> Latin bestia (instead of expected *festia) < *dHwez-dHtia? (cf. CGerm *deusja-)
>
> Do these examples prove a dissimilation bH-dH > b-dH in Latin?
>
>
> JS Lopes

More likely an irregular assimilation after dH>tH>T>f, since assimilation-at-a-distance changes in similar consonants is common in Italic (or, at least, much more common than in most other languages). The opp. would be seen in forfex not *forbex; with others such as p-kW > kW-kW or m-w > m-m in *ma:wortkos > Oscan Mamercus.

Bestia is borrowed from *beRsYtYab < *beRtYsYaB and be:lua < *betYsYLaw < *betYsYRaB (with R = voiced uvular fricative, B = bilabial r).