Programme

Root-structure and the occurrence of full and lengthened grade in PIE root nouns
Benedicte Nielsen Whitehead, University of Copenhagen
The paper reviews the ablaut patterns of PIE root nouns, especially the conditions for
nominatival lengthening and the choice of weak grade correlating to a specific form of the
nominative.
Certain basics of PIE root-noun apophony are today considered commonplace, such as
the link between ablaut and specific semantic types: stative agent-nouns, action nouns,
nomina rei actae (Schindler 1972); or the fact that that nominatival lengthening occurs only in
stems with one final consonant (e.g. Möller 1880: 499).
However, Schindler 1979: 60 also pointed out that in certain well-defined cases, root
structure was a determining factor for the choice of a particular ablaut grade. This paper
surveys 80 root nouns of presumed IE age and qualifies his findings as follows: a root noun
will only ever appear in a form that displays (a) at least one initial consonant, (b) a syllabic
element and (c) if possible, exactly one final consonant. I.e., the root maintains the basic
phonological structure C N V 1 C 1 , when possible.
The relevance of these observations is twofold. As will be illustrated, we should,
firstly, pay special attention to a small handful of root nouns that do not adhere to these rules,
and secondly, we should be careful when drawing conclusions about original ablaut patterns
on the basis of attested forms.
These facts challenge our otherwise firm convictions about the ablaut of PIE root
nouns.
References:
Möller, H. 1880. “Zur declination. Germanisch ā ē ō in de endungen des nomens und die
Entstehung des o (*a₂)”. PBB 7: 482-547.
Schindler, J. 1972. Das Wurzelnomen im Arischen und Griechischen. Dissertation: Phil. Fak.,
Universität Würzburg.
Schindler, J. 1979. “C. Rezension”. Die Sprache 25 (1): 57-60.
29