Genitive problems: Mycenaean -Ca-o, -Co-jo, -Co vs. later Greek -αο, -οιο, -ου

Journal article

After a review of earlier theories about the analogical genesis of the Mycenaean masculine ā-stem genitives in -Ca-o /- ā(h)o/, it is argued that the traditional explanation, which sees the o-stem genitive as their model, can be maintained if the phonological development *-osyo > *-ohyo > *-ōyo > *-ōho > *-ō (Kiparsky) is accepted. Mycenaean -Co-jo is a conservative spelling for /-ōho/ and the genitives in /-āho/ are recent creations for which a similar spelling in *-Ca-jo was orthographically blocked. The later Greek o-stem genitives in -oυ partly arise from contracted *-ōo, but in the pronominal system in particular they also result from the generalisation of elided *tōh(o) etc.; similar forms might also explain the 'irregular' Mycenaean genitives in -Co. © Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht GmbH and Co. KG, 2009.

Authors: Willi, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
• Journal: Glotta - Zeitschrift fur Griechische und Lateinische Sprache
• Volume: 84
• Issue: 1-4
• Pages: 239-272
• Publication date: 2008-09-01
• DOI: 10.13109/glot.2008.84.14.239
• EISSN: 2196-9043
• ISSN: 0017-1298
• Language: English