No Proto-Boreanesian Vowel Theory (was: Re: [Re: [Re: Roll YourOwn IE language]]

Kristian Jensen wrote:
> if a no-vowel theory in both Proto-B and PIE is true, then it
> would make both proto-languages quite unusual for natlangs. I can't
> help but wonder if all this is just a desperate attempt by both me
> and Indo-Europeanists to make our respective Proto-langs more
> phonologically regular in certain aspects but at the same time
> bringing about unintentionally some bizarreness in other aspects.
Mayhap.  I think that some of the phonological irregularity may come
from PIE not splitting "cleanly", that is, PIE divided up into a number
of dialects which probably remained in contact for some time, borrowing
from one another and mutually influencing each other, possibly in
contact as well with other languages, perhaps a bit of contact with
proto-Uralic, proto-Afro-Asiatic, etc., which could explain the
similarities between them without genetic relationship.

--
"It's bad manners to talk about ropes in the house of a man whose father
was hanged." - Irish proverb
http://members.tripod.com/~Nik_Taylor/X-Files
http://members.tripod.com/~Nik_Taylor/Books.html
ICQ: 18656696
AIM Screen-name: NikTailor