Newsgroups: sci.lang
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From: svm@kozmix.xs4all.nl (Sander van Malssen)
Subject: Re: Are Proto-Indo-European stems one syllable?
Message-ID: <DADI43.1pH@kozmix.xs4all.nl>
Date: Sun, 18 Jun 1995 14:40:51 GMT
Reply-To: svm@kozmix.xs4all.nl
References: <DAAoLC.Dun@indirect.com>
Organization: Kozmic Egg Productions, Gouda, Netherlands
Lines: 24

ftilley@indirect.com (Felix E. Tilley Jr.) writes:
> Are all proto-Indo-European stems one syllable, or are the some
> with two-syllable stems?  I am going by Partridge's Origins, and all
> the stems he mentions are one syllable in length.

Assuming you really mean roots, yes, it would seem so. All roots
appearantly had the form CVC-, where each C may be one or two
consonants, including r, l, m, n, y, w and laryngeals (and V=vowel).
Pronouns don't always follow this format.

Stem formation may add a suffix, or sometimes cause a root-final rlmnywH
to vocalise, so stems are often disyllabic.

I think there are some isolated nouns (can't think of an example right
now) that are disyllabic, which may mean either 1) that PIE had some
disyllabic roots, or 2) that they're really root + stem-sufix that we've
failed to analyse as such, or 3) they're borrowings from some
contemporary language.

Bye,
Sander
-- 
Sander van Malssen
svm@kozmix.xs4all.nl
