Re: Sos-

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Torsten" <tgpedersen@...> wrote:

>
> > > > Can you explain Greek <tri:'bo:> 'I rub', 2nd aor. pass.
> > > > <etri'be:n> with short /i/?
> > >
> > > Greek is not my strong suit, but this one I think I can handle by
> > > means of another rule I proposed; see the discussion starting in
> > > http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/cybalist/message/46106
> > > and
> > > http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/cybalist/message/47212
> > > http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/cybalist/message/46183
> > > http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/cybalist/message/49523
> > > In casu: tri:b- is a cross between the forms occurring in 3sg
> > > *tréIb- and 3pl *trimb-´.
> >
> > But this verb does not have nasalized forms in Greek.
>
> I didn't claim it did. Paradigm leveling as described. Note the asterisk.

All right, but we have to cross two hypothetical forms to get the real one. If we assume original /i:/, all we need is reduced grade to get the /i/, maintaining the quantitative distinction found in typical verbs with /ei/ versus /i/.

In Germanic, such verbs would merge with ordinary Class I strong verbs. The ones with original /u:/, as described, would become that funny subset of Class II.

> > Note that <lambano:>, <manthano:>, ktl. have double nasalization in
> > the whole present stem similar to those Hittite 3pl. forms.
>
> Root -a-, hm. Back-formed from the 3pl. *lamb-ánti, *manth-ánti of some a-language (re the last, I assume the nasalization in the present stem spread from stems with voiced unasp. stops in auslaut to those with other types of stops)?

On second thought, this double nasalization of certain Greek present stems probably has nothing to do with those Hittite 3pl. athematic forms. The rule is that Greek verbs whose present stems are extended by -an- take a second nasal only when the weak grade of the root has a short syllable. Thus we have <blastáno:>, <auxáno:>, <dartháno:> but <lantháno:>, <thiggáno:>, <tugkháno:>. My guess is that the second nasal was generalized from verbs where it was historically justified, like <mantháno:> from *mendH-, to those where it was not, like <lambáno:> from *leh2gW-. This generalization gave all verbs of this type a long syllable before the -an-.

I should have consulted Goodwin before speculating.

DGK