Re: potto

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, Rick McCallister wrote:

>
> > I can't separate txiki = small from c^íki = small Bur;
> >
> > They sound the same and mean the same thing.
> >
> > > But Basque tS- /tx/ (as well as c- /tt/) is most often the result

of

> > > *expressive* palatalization, so the comparison is phonetically

impaired.

>
> Linguists have called many features "expressive" when they don't

understand them.

>

That's right, and Rick knows Trask (as well as other Vascologists)
clearly *abused* of this term. But Basque *does* use expressive
palatalization to convey a diminutive or affective meaning, so it's
likely it also happened in this word. Also the possible cognate
Germanic *tikki:na- 'kid' was quoted by Krahe as an example of
*expressive* gemination.

> Your are right in general about the expressive biz, BUT in Basque,

/ch-/ is often an expressive modification for /s/, I believe,

>

Don't forget Basque has two sibilants: /s'/{s} (apical) and /s/ {z}
(laminal), together with their respective affricates /ts'/ {ts} and /ts/
{tz}, so /tS/ {tx} can be the result of expressive palatalization of
either of them. But also /c/ {tt} can give /tS/, possibly due to the
fact some language/dialects (e.g. Castilian) don't have apical
affricates.