--- In Nostratica@yahoogroups.com, erobert52@... wrote:

> These aren't as unique as you might think. Most of
> these similarities, and a number besides, are shared
> by Etruscan and NEC.

Interesting. I might have to look more closely into NEC because I
understand there are some similarities between it and PIE.

> And the noun declension
> is agglutinative (like NEC), not flexional as in IE.

The IE system almost assuredly was derived from an earlier
agglutinative one. It contains a small number of elements (m, s, d,
bhi, e/o, eye (various grades), and h (I think that's all of them))
in varous combinations. It probably developed from a simpler system
something like:

1) Absolutive -m
2) Ergative -s/-d (animate/inanimate)
3) Dative/locative -eye
4) Instrumental -bhi
5) Plural -e/-o/-h

I expect (5) to be a bit controversial since -s is usually considered
a plural marker. As the system changed to an accusative one with an
additional feminine gender you found some analogical spreading of -
bhi and -m mainly at the expense of -d. I've also noted an odd
correspondence between the flexional endings and the pronouns. I'm
not sure what to make of it yet.