----- Original Message -----

From: Piotr Gasiorowski

To: nostratic@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 6:40 PM

Subject: Re: [nostratic] An online Afro-Asiatic database

 

It's a convention some of us use on a different (IE) list; sorry for using it without warning. No laryngeal meant here -- capital H is used as a diacritic (it simply stands for aspiration). It would be *rebh- in your terms. Let me repeat that there is no ground for claiming PIE status for this Northernism.

 

As for semantic trickery, "month = rib" is a completely arbitrary equation, especially when applied to isolated terms in language groups that are genetically and geographically as far apart as Slavic or Germanic and Egyptian. With so much latitude you could "prove" virtually anything, which is tantamount to proving nothing.

 

[PCR]

Well, after I wrote, I did a little research on the anticipated Arabic response, *rab-, and found little to support the idea of the root moving 'rib' or 'roof' or 'cover'.

 

That weakens the case tremendously, of course.

 

I do think Sumerian rib-gam-ma is interesting but I have to admit that the evidence for this root is extremely slim.

 

That, of course, does not mean it did not exist, but if it did, it left extremely few traces.

 

 

Pat

 

PATRICK C. RYAN | PROTO-LANGUAGE@...
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