Funny W

[Rory M Larson]

> Yes, aWa is an example.  'Snow' is another and so are a couple of
instrumental prefixes.  In a few cases it is clear that W is a result of
*w+w, where an intervening vowel underwent syncope.  In other instances it
is possible that a laryngeal+w sequence collapsed.  The sequence *w+r has
similar reflexes in one chronological stratum of vocabulary.  I have a
discussion of "funny" R and W in the Comparative Method article in the
Handbook of Historical Linguistics.


Thanks, Bob!  I've found and read the section on "funny" R, but I don't see
anything on "funny" W.  Do you have any examples offhand for the *w+w,
laryngeal+w and *w+r cases?

So *R is the phoneme behind the Dakhota/Nakhota/Lakhota divide?  I.e.,
*Rakhota ?  What about Assiniboine and Stoney?  Where do they come out?

And *R => d in IOM and Winnebago, n in Crow (-Hidatsa ?), n in Biloxi and
Tutelo, l in Ofo, t in Quapaw and Osage, d in Kansa, and of course n in OP.
Is Mandan unknown?

And *W => w in Dakotan and Winnebago, I believe, which isn't hugely helpful
to the model I proposed earlier today.

Very nice article, by the way!  I'll have to read the whole thing when I
get a chance.

Rory
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