Lakota demonstratives

[Jess Tauber]

Any hints that le', he', ka' might go back to very widespread triplet T, K,
KW for proximal, medial, distal (sometimes the latter two are interpreted as
distal and irrealis, out of sight, etc.)  in spatial demonstrative systems?
If so, would there be any tendency to let the distal go first hierarchically,
as there sometimes isn't any great need to let go of what isn't here and now,
in view, etc.? Many languages have 1st and 2nd personal pronouns
transparently derivative off the first two, but few (if any- none come
immediately to mind) have any from the third. Maybe its just discourse
factors, and the third/distal form tends to get lexicalized? Thoughts?

Jess Tauber
zylogy at aol.com
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