Re: Sorting PIE with IPA

On May 21, 2007, at 11:18 AM, Paul Bennett wrote:

> So, as you may know, I'm working on a dictionary (of sorts).
>
> I have a question that seems pertinent with regard to the ordering
> of entries. It's about the correct way to order PIE symbols within
> a mostly-IPA set of entries. For the bulk of the symbols, I've
> stuck with the order given in Pullum's _Phonetic Symbol Guide_, but
> the PIE dorsals don't fit neatly into that order.
>
> I want both opinions and any relevant precedents, if you've got
> them, to help me best answer the following questions:
>
> Should I sort the PIE palatals (ḱ ǵ ǵʰ) with the IPA palatals
> (c ɟ ɟʰ) or with the k-like symbols? Should I, in fact, simply
> consider them indistinguishable from the IPA palatals?
I second the visual method. The symbols are obvious variants of the
velar symbols, and PIEists are not in agreement that they were
actually palatal (nor that the k and k' series were distinct).
>
> Should I sort the PIE labiovelars (kʷ gʷ gʷʰ) with the IPA
> labiovelars (ȹ ȸ ȸʰ)
Those are actually labiodentals.

> or with the k-like symbols? Should I, in fact, simply consider them
> indistinguishable from the IPA labiovelars? They're not necessarily
> coarticulated stops, but I think having a consistent ordering
> schema with relation to the palatals would help the reader.
> Actually, *would* that help you, as the reader?
>
> In the same vein: I have currently sorted the PIE laryngeals
> immediately after h, in numeric order, but if you think I'd be
> better off putting those somewhere else too, it would be useful to
> hear.

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