*G^EN-

[petegray]

>1. the opinion was expressed that the root should properly be reconstructed as
>*g^enH(1)- rather than *g^en-; is this a majority opinion?

Absolutely.  The laryngeal (h1) is very well established.
  (a) set. (i.e. not anit) forms exist in Sanskrit:  janitos, janitvi, etc;
janisyati etc;
  (b) non-lengthening in Sanskrit causative:  janayati (suggests a closed
syllable, *genH-eye-ti.   Likewise the desiderative jijanis.ate.
   (c) Forms with syllabic n (zero grade before consonant) show reflexes in
Sanskrit of long syllabic n, which implies nh.  eg ja:yate, ja:ta etc.
  (d) Latin perfect genui (from gigno) is an absolute give-away for a
laryngeal.

Peter