glottalic theory

[Peter &/or Graham]

Hans-Joachim Alscher said:
>Do you know the theory of Merlingen that *bh/*dh/*gh... represent original
>implosive b / d / g ...? [PIE system *p,t,k,kw,k4/*(b),d,g,gw,g4/*implosive
>b,d,g,gw,g4 ~ 'b,'d,'g,'gw,'g4].

Yes, I do.   The main advantage I can see is that it explains the
extraordinary number of occurrences of voiced aspirates at the beginning of
words, as opposed to medial or final (about 6 times as many;  while for both
"plain voiced" and voiceless, it is only about 3 times as many).  As is well
known, implosives are commoner at the beginnings of words - for example
Sindhi implosives only occur word-initially.   Unfortunately a velar
implosive, although not impossible, is rather rare.

J C Salmons "The Glottalic Theory" is a useful resource for this kind of
information.

Peer