Palaic shows consistent geminate spelling in certain words. Although the phonetic realization of geminate spelling is commonly reconstructed as a long consonant, little consensus is found...Show morePalaic shows consistent geminate spelling in certain words. Although the phonetic realization of geminate spelling is commonly reconstructed as a long consonant, little consensus is found concerning the other Anatolian languages. This thesis analyzes the evidence found in Palaic texts and concludes that a difference in length is more probable than a difference in voice, as is often suggested.Show less
This thesis investigates the synchronic and diachronic identity of the Anatolian stops, and their implications for Proto-Indo-European phonology and subgrouping. Ever since Sturtevant (1932), it...Show moreThis thesis investigates the synchronic and diachronic identity of the Anatolian stops, and their implications for Proto-Indo-European phonology and subgrouping. Ever since Sturtevant (1932), it has been known that etymologically Hittite cuneiform VC-CV (fortis) spellings go back to PIE *t, and V-CV (lenis) spellings to *d/dh. This has been taken to stand either for a synchronic voicing or length contrast. Through an examination of the origins and use of Hittite cuneiform, combined with phonological evidence, it is concluded that the underlying contrast must be length. A typological survey of geminate evolution and Proto-Anatolian phonology further concludes that this contrast must be original, and cannot emerge from a voicing contrast. Therefore the Nuclear-Proto-Indo-European *t~*d~*dh contrast is an innovation, and a *t:~*t~*? system must be reconstructed for Proto-Indo-European. This is evidence of a significant innovation that Proto-Anatolian did not take part in, and thus strong evidence for the Indo-Hittite Hypothesis.Show less
The Hittite verbal system has two inflections: There is a division in active and medio-passive verbal forms. Although most Hittite verbs either contain forms of both inflections with a clear...Show moreThe Hittite verbal system has two inflections: There is a division in active and medio-passive verbal forms. Although most Hittite verbs either contain forms of both inflections with a clear distinction between them in function, or they are activa or media tantum, the forms of the verb paḫš-a(ri)/i however occur in both inflections and seem to lack a clear distinction between these two inflections. Many scholars have stumbled over this verb and the statements about it in the dictionaries vary widely. Puhvel states in his Hittite Etymological Dictionary (1984) that there are some old traces of old vassal treaties attested, but the sources he names as examples are from the youngest period of Hittite. Besides, it is still strange that some forms are always inflected in the active inflection, while some forms are always in the medio-passive inflection and never in the active one. In this MA thesis I will try to answer the question what exactly determines whether an active or a medio-passive form of paḫš-a(ri)/i is used, after providing a more general introduction to inflections and their functions in Indo-European and in Hittite. To be able to find an answer, it is necessary to first investigate which forms of paḫš-a(ri)/i are attested in different text periods of Hittite, after having designate the usable data. It is important to look whether the active and medio-passive forms occur in all Hittite periods or whether there is a chronological division visible. Secondly, I will look whether there are Hittite texts found in which both active and medio-passive forms of paḫš-a(ri)/i occur and look at the context to see whether I could assign a distinction in function between the two inflections.Show less
The thesis discusses the velar graphemes in Hittite, commonly transliterated as KA, GA and QA. It is normally assumed that these graphemes can be used interchangeably. However, it is argued that...Show moreThe thesis discusses the velar graphemes in Hittite, commonly transliterated as KA, GA and QA. It is normally assumed that these graphemes can be used interchangeably. However, it is argued that this is clearly not the case. The thesis then tries to show in which environments the different graphemes are used and how the use can be motivated phonologically.Show less
