--- In nostratic@..., Miguel Carrasquer Vidal <mcv@...> wrote:

> On Sat, 24 Nov 2001 05:38:22 -0000, "Knut" <aquila_grande@...>
> wrote:
>

> To make a lot of sense, a theory about the thematic vowel should
> explain in detail the peculiar behaviour of the PIE thematic vowel,
> including:
>
> - why it is nearly always resistant to zero grade (and why it seems

to

> have -i- as zero grade when it isn't).
> - why it has a peculiar ablaut pattern, found nowhere else in PIE
> phonology (to wit, -o- before voiced segments, -e- before voiceless

or

> zero).
> - why the thematic declension differs substantially from all the

other

> nominal declensions, and in particular, why it shows a number of
> parallels with the pronominal declension.
> - why the thematic vowel is sometimes added to a nominal or verbal
> stem in zero grade (*wlkW-os, tudáti verbs), sometimes to a gun.a

root

> (*bhér-e- type), and sometimes to a root in o-grade or lengthened
> grade.
> - why the same element performs such different functions in nouns

and

> adjectives (deverbatives, denominatives) and verbs (thematic
> indicative, subjunctive), and what may have been the original common
> denominator.
>
> =======================
> Miguel Carrasquer Vidal
> mcv@...

HI

I think I have an explanation for some of these features. According
to my opinion, the thematic wovel actually originally was a part of
the root. In Steppe I think many (if not all) noun roots ended in a
wovel. I think Some of these root had this end-wovel permanently
axentuated.

When the zero-grade arose, the end-wovel of the root was thus
protected, while the sentral wovel of the root got zero-grade. This
protected end-wovel. I think this protected rott end-wovel is the
origin of the thematic wovel.

This hypotesis for the origin explains why the thematic wovel is
protected from zero-grade, and why it is often attached to zero-grade
roots.

I other roots the axentuation shifted between the sentral wovel and
the end wovel during inflection. Theese roots sometimes got zero-
grade in the sentral wovel, sometimes in the end wovel. For these
nouns the end wovel was redefined to be a part of the ending when it
persisted.

Thus two patterns of inflection arose, the thematic, and the
athematic.

I can give two examples:

Acc welqwo`m > wlqwo`m
Gen welqwo`se > wlqwo`s

Acc de`ntom > dentm
Gen dento`se > dnto`s (here the o was redefined as belonging to the
ending)

(Remark: I do not have a clear meaning about when the zero-grade
period occured. Therefore I do not know exactly what shape the
endings had at that time,whether they were more like the Steppe-
endings or the IE-endigs. Therefore the endings I have used as
examples may be somewhat strange)

This development, however resulted in some homonymity in the endings
of the thematic pattern (for eksample became nomsg and gensg alike).
To mend these defects, analogies from the pronominal declention was
used. Later on the endings of the athematic declension also were
transfered and added after the thematic wovel.

In an even later stage, the thematic wovel got steadily more
functions, and was added to all kinds of roots, in all kinds of
grades.