Typology and the phonetics of laryngeals

[iffr762 at utxvms.cc.utexas.edu]

	In general I agree with Nikolaev's posting.  If we look at the IE
sound-system, what is missing (if we have no particular predilection for
exotica) is fricatives.  And for fricatives, esp. voiced, to intergrade
(over time) with vowels or semi-vowels is hardly unknown.  One may cite
Greek /autos/ -> /aftos/, or OE palatal /g/ -> /y/ (English value).
	And as I said long ago, there may well be a connection between the
famous /b/-gap and the apparent voicing of H3, if this was sucked into the
gap, so to speak.  I think I will dig up my earlier (mercifully brief)
writings on the subject and inflict them on the assemblage.

					DLW