Studies in Armenian historical phonology (II) Early raising of mid vowels in Auslaut

Abstract

It is argued that PIE mid vowels were raised in absolute Auslaut prior to the general apocope in prehistoric Armenian. This sound change accounts for the shape of the aorist middle 3sg. ending -aw ( (star)-wK-.

Keywords

• Auslaut
• labiovelars
• palatalization
• relative chronology
• rounding
• sound change