Laryngeal loss and vocalism

Abstract

The loss of Proto-Indo-European laryngeals is often described as multiple independent processes within each branch and proto-language.

However, there are striking similarities in the merging, colouring, vocalisation, and deletion processes that suggest a common period of laryngeal evolution.

In this paper we examine the potential evolutionary stages of laryngeals in the Common Indo-European period – after the separation of Proto-Anatolian –, and in early branches, with special emphasis on North-West Indo-European phonetic reconstruction.